A house in Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 5 was burgled in broad daylight on January 14.

Police said the burglars broke into the house of Bishnu Bahadur Karki and made off with cash and valuables worth Rs 1.6 million.

As most of the members in the Karki’s family are jobholders, there was no one in the house at the time of the incident.

Karki filed a police complaint after learning about the robbery, but police say they have not found any clue about the burglars.

“It becomes difficult to identify a thief once he or she gets away without anyone noticing,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Kiran Bajracharya at Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari.

The house of Rajan KC, a resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 25, was also robbed on the same day as Karki’s. Again, it was a case of daylight robbery that took place while the house occupants were out.

Police said the thieves stole Rs 113,000 cash from KC’s house.

At least seven incidents of breaking and entering are reported daily, according to Nepal Police.

“More than half of these incidents take place during the day. The trend is stark in Kathmandu Valley, where burglars target unattended houses and rented rooms of working families during daylight,” said Bajracharya.

“Criminals have been targeting houses and rented room during office hours when the house owners and tenants are away. They usually steal cash and salable goods like gold and electronic gadgets,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Uttam Subedi, chief at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range.

Police suggest keeping expensive belongings like jewellery and cash in bank lockers and informing one’s neighbours or police when going on a long trip.