Bike-borne thieves snatch bag from trader, make away with lakhs in cash

Two bike-borne thieves snatched a bag containing R8.50 lakh from a trader's assistant at Masjid Bunder (East) on Wednesday afternoon. The man had withdrawn the cash from the bank just minutes earlier. A case has been registered against the two thieves and investigation has begun. The cops suspect that a tip-off by an insider helped the two commit the crime.

The road at Masjid Bunder where the robbery took place. Pic/ Bipin Kokate

Ramesh Kumar Sharma, 35, works as an office assistant with a raddi trader at P D'Mello Road. On Wednesday afternoon, around 3.45 pm, Sharma was returning from a nearby bank with Rs 8.50 lakh in a black bag. When he reached Baroda Street, near Abhay Steel House, a bike came from behind and the pillion rider snatched the bag from Sharma.

Also Read: Mumbai Crime: Man Dies After Beaten With Bamboo Stick On Head After Minor Tiff

"After snatching the bag, the thieves sped off towards P D'Mello Road. Sharma then informed his employer who took him to Pydhonie Police station," said a police officer. "There are CCTV cameras installed in the area and we are checking which of them are in working condition," the officer said.

Another officer said, "The thieves may have had a fair idea about Sharma's routine and probably knew he would be carrying a large amount of cash."

The Pydhonie police have registered a case under section Indian Penal Code 392 (Robbery), 34 (Common intention) against two and have formed teams to investigate the matter. The crime branch, too, is conducting a parallel inquiry.