CCTV footage helps cops nab thieves

Footage from CCTV helped the Halasur Gate Police arrest a four-member gang that had stolen jewellery and Rs 35 lakh from a jewellery refinery shop recently. The arrested are Shekhar Suresh Deshmukh, Anil Sandeepan Deshmukh, Tudar Indurao Deshmukh and Indrajith.

Background

Anil was employed at SR refinery shop in a four-storey building at Nagarthpet owned by Yeshwanth Waghmode, 20 years ago.

According to police, Anil was deep in debt and to repay it, he hatched a conspiracy with his friends to burgle the shop. Anil’s friend Shekhar Suresh Deshmukh, who hails from Pune, came to Bangalore to help him.

In mid-January, Waghmode was away at his native place for a week. He had kept the keys of the different rooms in the draw, before he left the City.

Well-planned

The gang decided to strike late on January 16 night. They wore helmets, jerkins and hand gloves to hide their identity. It was decided that Shekhar would go inside, while Anil would give him directions from outside.

Shekhar collected 20 kg of silver ornaments, 260 gm of gold ornaments and Rs 12.84 lakh, all valued at Rs 35 lakh. But he did not come out, as Anil alerted him about the police patrolling. Shekhar went to sleep on the staircase, as he was inebriated.
He had removed his helmet before sleeping.

Anil too went to sleep outside the shop. He woke up early morning and asked Shekhar to rush out immediately. In a hurry, Shekhar left behind the helmet. All of his movements were captured on CCTV cameras, police said. Shekhar went to Pune and asked the others to meet him there.

In the meantime, Waghmode lodged a complaint. The police collected the CCTV footage and the helmet. They took Anil and others into custody for questioning. The accused admitted to committing the theft, police said.