Criminals use diversionary tactics to snatch bag, chain

Criminals never cease to innovate on the methods to steal cash and valuables, and in recent times, they employ diversionary tactics to good effect.

Automobile businessman Biju M M was driving along Kanakapura Main Road in Basavanagudi when a man gestured to him that his car tyre was punctured. Biju was on his way back to his office in JC Nagar from Jayanagar where he deposited Rs 1 lakh in his current account in a bank.

Realising that his left tyre was actually punctured, Biju parked the car on the roadside and dialled a mechanic to fix the spare. When it was done, he drove to his office and realised then that the bag with Rs 3.8 lakh was missing. The businessman lodged a complaint with the Basavanagudi police.

In a similar incident, an elderly woman lost her gold chain to a man who posed as a policeman.

Lakshmi Devi, a resident of 21A Main, 10th Cross, HSR Layout Sector 1, went for her morning walk on June 25. At 6.50 am, a man riding a bike stopped close to Lakshmi and introduced himself as a policeman. He insisted that Lakshmi remove the gold chain she was wearing and put it in her bag since thieves are lurking around.

As Lakshmi opened the bag to drop the chain, the biker reached out and snatched it from her hand and sped away.

Lakshmi's son Tej Kumar MG filed a complaint with the HSR Layout police.