25 thefts in 2 weeks

Spate of robberies in Pimpri-Chinchwad continue unabated; shopkeepers up in arms, claim police are not doing enough

November 16: Bike-riding robbers break into four shops in Morwadi with an iron rod and steal cash and grocery worth Rs 35,600.

November 15: The robbers break into six shops at Prestige Plaza, Nigdi and steal cash and gold worth Rs 60 lakh.

These are just two of the 25 robberies that shopkeepers in Pimpri-Chinchwad claim have taken place in the past two weeks, making them panic.

Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Babar, who also heads Pimpri Chinchwad Merchants Association (PCMA) said, "Instead of strengthening patrolling in the area, police expect us to remain alert. They are washing their hands off their responsibility." Romi Sandhu, who heads the Vegetable and Fruit Market Association in Pimpri said, "The cases of cell phone theft in this market are also on the rise. Every time there is a theft, we register a complaint, but it is difficult to say if the police are taking action."
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Help ourselves
Kiran Suvarna, president of a faction of PCMA known as Sant Tukaramnagar Merchants Association, said, "To overcome the menace, we have asked our 450 members to not keep precious things in their shops during the night and to appoint private security guards for every four-five shops."