KARACHI: In yet another incident underscoring the city’s persistent street crime problem, three armed suspects riding a single motorbike allegedly boarded a college bus parked outside Jinnah Medical and Dental College and robbed female students before fleeing the scene.
The incident occurred within the limits of the New Town police station, where a case has been registered on the complaint of bus driver Abdur Rehman.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the bus was parked near the college when the suspects arrived, entered the vehicle, and carried out the robbery. The circumstances have raised suspicions that the suspects may have been monitoring the bus routine, as it operates on the same route daily.
Police said the suspects targeted three female students. A gold chain was reportedly snatched from one student after what the complaint described as a “proper check,” while mobile phones were taken from two others. One of the victims also reported that her purse containing around Rs8,000 in cash was stolen.
The FIR stated that one suspect was wearing a mask while another used a cap. The driver told police that all three suspects appeared to be between 25 and 30 years old and said he would be able to identify them if seen again.
After committing the crime, the suspects fled on their motorbike. Police said statements of the affected students have been recorded and efforts are under way to obtain CCTV footage from the area, though none has surfaced so far. No significant progress in the investigation has yet been reported.
The incident has raised serious questions about security and law enforcement response, as the suspects managed to enter the bus, commit the robbery, and escape without immediate interception.
Following the incident, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho took notice and sought a detailed report from Karachi police authorities. He also ordered the immediate arrest of those involved and directed action against the station house officer and other personnel concerned.
The police chief further instructed officials to ensure identification of the suspects using victim statements and available evidence.
The case has once again highlighted Karachi’s worsening crime situation. Official figures show around 40,000 crimes were reported last year, while more than 11,000 cases have already been recorded in the first two and a half months of 2026.
Mobile phone snatching and motorbike theft remain among the most common street crimes, with police often stating that stolen vehicles are either taken outside the province or dismantled and sold.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to improve surveillance, with over 1,200 Safe City cameras installed across Karachi. However, despite claims of enhanced monitoring and facial recognition capabilities, concerns persist over the lack of arrests in many such cases.