Bur Dubai residents report car vandalism

Residents of Bur Dubai have reported car vandalism cases across some community parking lots, with incidents that include damage to the paintwork, scratches and dents and a few cases of deflated tyres.

Dubai Police has reiterated that members of the public must step forth and flag such cases with authorities; however, many a times, such incidents go unreported.

“My wife and I both drive separate cars, and due to the limited parking spaces in our building, one of us is forced to park in the community paid public lot,” Al Mankhool resident Nikhil Gehi told Emirates 24|7.

“And almost, like clockwork, we find a new scratch keyed into our vehicle every few weeks. Once it was a scratch that covered an entire side of my car; the other time it was keyed into the car’s bonnet.”

Gehi said after having those scratches fixed a few times, he’s now given up. “I just don’t have the time nor the patience to keep driving to the workshop. At least if my car is already keyed in, it would probably dissuade whoever they are to stop from returning."‎

This reporter has also had her car damaged in a similar incident in the same neighbourhood, a matter that is currently registered with Dubai Police.

‎A Dubai Police source said that if people find their vehicle damaged, contact the emergency number and lodge a complaint with authorities for insurance purposes. The report fee is Dh120.

Another option is to open a case file for further court procedures. This would involve investigation by Dubai Police, while the victim waits until the culprit(s) are caught.

Following this, the police will open a criminal case with the court, while the plaintiff files a civil case with the aid of a lawyer, handing over the police report and the loss report on damages.

If the judge issues a guilty verdict, it would bode positively on the civil case decision, and if the guilt isn't proven in the criminal case, the civil case is then ruled in the defendant's favour.

The police source further added that if residents notice any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood, they must call the Al Ameen service.

Imran Shroff, another resident of the community, said his vehicle has endured similar ‘malicious’ damage, adding: “Police, however, have increased late night patrolling the area, so we've had respite of late.

‎Resident Sagar Pathak says it's usually weekends that witness a spike in such cases.

The 28-year-old says, while he's never actually caught someone in the act, the building security guards in the neighborhood have narrated incidents of young adults who make mischief in the residential community.

While most privately owned car parks forbid children from playing on the ground, no such hindrance exists in the public parking spots.

Resident Carol Mathews says: "Children will be children, so it's not uncommon to find dents on your vehicle when the cricket ball comes flying into your car, or bicycles squeezing through the space between parked cars and ‎leave behind a trail of scratches."

Mathews says parents and minders should be held responsible in such cases, saying it is 'imperative' that‎ children are taught to own up to such actions, which can have consequences.

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