Burglars went on rampage at the police lines in Vishrantwadi on Thursday morning and struck at residences of five policemen. Cash and jewellery estimated at over Rs22,300 were stolen in the incident.
This is second burglary spree was witnessed at police lines in the city in less than a year. Earlier on April 29, residences of seven policemen were burgled at Kaverinagar police lines in Wakad and the booty was worth over Rs1.77 lakh. The police began investigations in that case after constable Kalyan Baburav Maharnor, 34, lodged a complaint at Hinjewadi police station. A gang of nine was arrested a couple of months later.
Constable Momin Shaikh, whose house at the Vishrantwadi police lines was burgled early on Thursday, has lodged a first information report at Yerawada police station. The police are still groping in the dark.
Sub-inspector Reshma Mulani from Jail Road police chowki, who is handling the investigations, said, “We are probing all possibilities. We have been checking out possible involvement of people arrested in the past for committing burglaries and later released on bail. There is a possibility of burglars having carried out a recce before striking. Somebody may have noticed suspicious activities. We are talking to residents of police lines and surrounding areas. We are also investigating the possibility of an insider hand.’’
Police inspector (crime) Vishwanath Ghanwat from Yerawada police station told DNA, “ The policemen to whom the burgled quarters have been allotted were on night duty when the burglaries took place. Their families were also not at home and the houses were locked.’’
The burgled flats are located in B 12, B 14, B 16, C 9 and C 17 buildings. The colony has 10 buildings with 6 flats each. It has two gates. The police suspect the burglars used the rear gate.
