The North division police have arrested a gang of six members from Andhra Pradesh involved in several attention diversion cases in the City.
The gang has robbed several people of their cash and valuables, by diverting their attention. Based on a tip-off, the police arrested P Das, 35, Dilli, 40, Venkatramana, 28, Mohan, 34, Balraj, 45 and Ramesh, 40, all from Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.
They were residing in a rented house at Kalkere in Ramamurthynagar. Police have recovered Rs 17 lakh in cash, gold valuables valued at Rs three lakh and 20 mobile phones from them.
During interrogation, the accused admitted that they used to go out in groups to various banks and keep a watch on people who withdrew large sums of money.
Plan execution
After studying a particular person, they followed him or her and executed their plan. They would drop gold or silver coins or crisp Rs 10 notes and divert the attention of the person towards it. When the person would stoop to pick it up, the gang would escape with his bag of cash and valuables.
A senior police officer said that the gang had on April 10, made away with Rs 14 lakh in cash, after breaking the window of a car at HMT Layout in Vidyaranyapura.
“We have solved four cases after their arrest and are confident of solving more such cases. The gang has stashed the cash in a few sacks and has dumped it in their house. The gang was involved in similar cases in New Delhi, Mumbai and elsewhere.”
Commissioner of Police M N Reddi told reporters that the gang was notorious and it was being contemplated to book the members under Karnataka Organised Crime (Prevention) Act.
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