Gang robs jeweller of Rs nine lakh

Aravinda Reddy, the businessman, owns Swastik Jewellers in Total Mall near HAL. An unidentified customer walked into his shop on Thursday afternoon, chose some ornaments and presented his credit card, which was not accepted when it was swiped. The customer told Reddy he would check out with the bank. However, a suspicious Reddy posed a volley of questions.

Irked by Reddy’s questions the customer called another person waiting outside the shop. The duo exchanged heated words with Reddy. An employee alerted police who rushed to the shop, collected the card and let the duo free. Later, the shop staff noticed a few unidentified men loitering outside the shop.

Reddy kept the day’s collection of Rs nine lakh in his car before closing his shop. Along with four of his friends, he drove in his car to his home in Shanthinagar. Three men posing as night patrol police stopped Reddy near the Command Hospital in the guise of checking for drunken driving. Five others arrived on two motorcycles and threatened Reddy at knife point. While two of Reddy’s friends managed to escape, the gang dragged Reddy and two others, thrashed them and fled with the vehicle.

Airport sub-division ACP Martin Alvares said the accused possessed about 10 fake cards. The Airport police maintained that they have secured one person for questioning and were verifying his credit card and other details. They claimed they were not aware of robbery near Command Hospital as the area fell under the Ulsoor police limits.  A senior officer said the case is likely to be handed over to the East Division police for investigation.

Woman robbed

A woman was robbed of her gold chain worth Rs 50,000 at Jogupalya in Halasoor on Thursday. Shanthi was returning home after visiting a temple when two persons followed her on a bike and the pillion rider snatched her chain, the police said.