Karachi's residents lost valuables worth over Rs2.27 billion to street criminals in the first eight months of 2026, while at least 55 people have been killed in these incidents. Police data shows that 898 cars, 12,200 motorbikes and 12,846 phones were snatched from residents between January and August. Based on a conservative estimated average value of Rs1.5 million per car, the 898 snatched cars had a combined estimated value of Rs1.347 billion.

Similarly, the 12,200 snatched motorbikes were worth approximately Rs610 million if an average value of Rs50,000 per motorcycle is taken as a conservative estimate, while at an estimated average value of Rs25,000 per handset, the total value of the snatched phones comes to approximately Rs321.15 million. The combined estimated value of the three categories, therefore, comes to Rs2.278 billion. The financial losses, however, are only one aspect of the street crime situation.

Residents also lose their lives when they resist robbery attempts. The compiled figures show that 55 people in the city have been killed this year while resisting street criminals. The deaths underline the potentially fatal consequences of street robberies, with routine snatching incidents sometimes turning into deadly confrontations.

The latest figures come amid repeated claims by senior police officers that street crime and other criminal activities in Karachi have declined. However, the police data on snatching incidents, coupled with the number of deaths recorded, indicates that street crime continues to cause substantial financial and human losses. The estimated Rs2.27 billion figure does not include cash, gold, jewellery, watches, laptops and other valuables taken during street crime incidents.

It is based only on the estimated value of the cars, motorbikes and phones reported to have been snatched in the eight months.