India, July 27 -- For years, Chandigarh and its two satellite towns, Mohali and Panchkula, were considered safe cities. One where women could venture out post sunset and make it back safely. One where seniors living alone found community support. One where going out for a walk did not make you an easy target for snatchers. But for some time now, the tricity has been losing its character. From raging gang wars in Mohali to armed break-ins in Panchkula, crimes have been rapidly rising. Planned city Chandigarh too isn't immune. Stabbing and snatching incidents are reported here almost every third day. And it's not just early mornings or late evenings, crimes are taking place in broad daylight too - in full public view. Just last week, a 76-year-old cancer patient was robbed of his gold kara while boarding a bus near Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. In a separate but similar incident, a 69-year-old woman was robbed of her gold bangle while boarding a bus. But perhaps the most chilling of all is the recent abduction and rape of a 16-year-old girl in a moving car in Zirakpur. She was walking back home when men, in a black car, stopped her, asked her for directions and then bundled her into the vehicle before subjecting her to the horrific ordeal. In Chandigarh, another 16-year-old, this time a schoolboy, was stabbed by two of his schoolmates over a petty fight. All these aren't isolated crimes but signs of rapidly growing lawlessness, thanks to gaps in policing. This even as police today are equipped with better technology and surveillance devices. As VK Vaid, a retired cop puts it, "When we were in service, we managed on two-wheelers. Today, the force has better access to four-wheelers, but deployment and visibility are still lacking. There's also a clear shortage of personnel, and the ties between the public and police are weakening. Most people don't even know who their area SHO is." To prevent the tricity from turning into a Wild West, authorities would do well to increase police visibility in public spaces, improve surveillance -- both human and technological --- and put in place systems for quicker police response. When crimes are reported and acted upon swiftly, it not only helps catch offenders but also sends a clear message that law and order still matter....