20 June,2014 06:43 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
Having reviewed the recent spate in armed robberies in the city, the police have concluded that there is a single gang behind them. The robbers accost their targets by engaging them in a spat after shamming road rage, only to loot them later. Cops are analysing the evidence to crack the cases
Petrol pump
Amid the rising number of crimes involving armed robbers by bike-borne miscreants in the city, Pune police has concluded that only one gang is behind these assaults. The gang is using a red Pulsar bike with a fake number plate (MH12-K-1748) and has committed 12 robberies since January, cops said.
In a recent case, a petrol pump employee was brutally assaulted and robbed, while he was carrying lakhs in cash to deposit in bank; (inset) Police Commissioner Satish Mathur. File pics
Commissioner of Police (CP) Satish Mathur, Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Jayant Naiknavare and other senior police officers recently reviewed all the major crimes that are still undetected.
The study revealed the unique modus operandi of the gang, which first stages an altercation on the road after hitting the suspects' vehicles, only to loot them.
In two of such undetected cases, software engineer Shreyas Waikar and cardiologist Jayant Deshpande were robbed of their valuables on Monday night in Bavdhan and Baner, respectively, after the motorcycle-borne robbers engaged them in a spat.
In two other incidents reported this month, employees from petrol pumps were assaulted on the road and robbed of lakhs, while they were on their way to deposit their pumps' collections in bank. Police are yet to find a breakthrough in these cases.
CP Mathur yesterday visited the Zone III office of Pune police under which falls the Pimpri-Chinchwad area, where the pump robberies occurred.
"We have analysed CCTV footage from the crime zones. The information received from citizens so far indicates that the modus operandi of the suspects is similar. They get into an argument with their target two-wheeler riders over driving issues, confront them, and rob them of valuables," he said.
"All serious offences are our natural priority. These include cases of murder, dacoity, robberies etc. In many undetected murder cases, the deceased person's identity has not been established, due to which there is no progress in investigation," Mathur added.
The commissioner directed local police station officers to coordinate with Crime Branch to help crack the cases. "Take preventive action against habitual offenders and criminals on police record. I will be reviewing the progress in your work after a month," he instructed his officials.
12
No of robberies the gang has committed since Jan
