To top it all, they appear equally incompetent while dealing with crimes varying from snatchings to vehicle thefts in the city.

Senior officers boast of having recovered 30 per cent of the stolen vehicles, while keeping mum on the remaining 70 per cent, of which they seem to have no clue. Here is an update of the deteriorating situation in the city, where crime rate has sky rocketed in 2008.

Snatchings

More than 20 snatchings were reported in the city in the last 10 days, all committed in broad daylight and that too in the busiest of the marketplaces including Sector 22, Sector 8 and Sector 9. While the snatchers have started considering the city a safe haven, the city police are totally clueless as to who is rubbing egg on their face everyday. statistics maintained by UT Police reveal the shoddy recovery rate, which has not even touched the 30 per cent mark. The last eight incidents of snatching occurred in the last 72 hours, where the culprits were all riding black Pulsar motorcycles. Yet the police have failed to identify even a single accused.

Snatchings were reported today as well. Two youths, riding a black Pulsar motorcycle, went to a Sector 44 resident, Balwant Kaur (72), who was sitting in a chair, in the verandah of her house. After engaging her in conservation, they snatched a gold chain worth Rs 25,000 from her person, leaving her injured.

A second snatching was reported in Sector 51. Sangeeta, (53), was attacked by two youngsters riding a black Pulsar motorbike while taking a walk near her house. The pillion rider, who was wearing a black helmet, snatched the gold chain from her.

Recruitment tests

Two recruitments were conducted this year – for the posts of 20 Assistant Sub-Inspector and 270 Constables. Both recruitment papers have now come under the scanner, with the city police resorting to the level of arresting their own men on apprehension of leaking the papers. Chandigarh Police's own personnel, who appeared in the recruitment papers, and allegedly paid money to get through the recruitment process, are now at large. Meanwhile, the Central Administrative Tribunal has issued a stay order on the joining of the selected ASIs after discrepancies were highlighted.

Vehicle thefts

A spate of vehicle thefts was witnessed towards 2007-end, which has continued unabated this year.

Particularly, areas falling under the jurisdiction of Sector 36, 34 and 39 police stations have emerged as the most vulnerable points.

More than 28 vehicle thefts were reported in December last year in the Sector 36 police station area.

Though the city police have recently nabbed six persons on charges of vehicle-thefts, they have failed to substantiate any organised racket.