ISLAMABAD: Three surveillance cameras belonging to the Islamabad Safe City Authority were stolen from Sector G-9/4, raising concerns over the effectiveness of the capital’s monitoring system after the incident remained unnoticed for nearly four weeks.
According to police officials, the theft occurred on May 5, 2026, but authorities only became aware of it 26 days later when a technical team investigated why the cameras had gone offline.
The stolen equipment included three dome cameras and a control cabinet, with the total loss estimated at approximately Rs549,500. The suspects reportedly removed the cameras along with the cabinet and fled the scene.
A complaint filed by Safe City official Ahmed Hassan led to the registration of a case at Karachi Company Police Station against two unidentified suspects.
Police sources said footage recorded before the cameras went offline captured two individuals carrying out the theft. However, despite the cameras ceasing transmission on the day of the incident, no immediate action was taken to investigate the disruption.
Officials stated that a technical inspection was conducted on May 31 after the prolonged outage was noticed. Upon arriving at the location, technicians discovered that both the surveillance cameras and cabinet had been removed. A review of the final available recordings confirmed the theft.
The incident has highlighted concerns regarding the monitoring and maintenance procedures of the Safe City surveillance network, particularly given that the system is designed to detect and deter criminal activity.
Similar Incidents Reported Earlier
This is not the first time Safe City equipment has been targeted.
In April 2026, a facial recognition camera installed at Faizabad Metro Station was stolen. Authorities only discovered the theft after the device remained offline for several days. An investigation later revealed footage showing a suspect removing the camera. A case was registered nine days after the incident.
Another theft occurred in October 2025 when thieves stole a battery worth Rs35,000 from Safe City equipment installed in Sector G-9/2, approximately 1.5 kilometres from Karachi Company Police Station.
In March 2024, two surveillance cameras valued at over Rs1.1 million disappeared from the Koral Flyover area after monitoring staff stopped receiving footage from the devices.
Similarly, in September 2023, a Safe City camera worth Rs120,000 was stolen near Margalla Police Station. Authorities reportedly learned about the incident nearly two weeks after the theft took place.
The repeated thefts have raised questions about the security and oversight of Islamabad’s Safe City infrastructure, with critics calling for stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent future losses.
