Police Bust Serial Theft Gang in Arunachal’s Capital

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itanagar: In a significant breakthrough, the Itanagar Police have apprehended a notorious gang responsible for a series of thefts across the Capital Region.

The arrests were the result of a month-long investigation led by Itanagar police station OC Inspector K Yangfo, with the support of a dedicated team, including Vivek Kr Maurya and sub-inspectors R K Jha, Padam Padi, Tana Suraj, and Samuel Ngupok.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Itanagar SDPO Kengo Dirchi, Capital superintendent of police Rohit Rajbir Singh informed on Monday.

The gang’s criminal activities first came to light after several high-profile thefts were reported in the area.

On December 11, last year, a complainant reported that Rs 3,00,000 had been stolen from his car parked outside the SBI branch, here. The thieves used a diversion tactic, tricking the victim into picking up fake currency notes while they fled with the cash.

Just two days earlier, on December 9, Milli Ossen had reported the theft of cash from her scooter parked in the basement of V-Mart at Ganga Market. Another major incident occurred on October 28, last year, when an ATM engineer, Dipak Deori, lost ?1,50,000 along with personal documents and valuables while servicing a cash deposit machine at the SBI main branch.

The police investigation revealed a well-organized operation by the gang, which targeted vulnerable areas such as bank premises and parking spaces. The suspects were found to have traveled between Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal to avoid detection.

Acting on a tip-off, the police apprehended two suspects near the SBI branch in Itanagar. A third individual was later arrested at Harmutty Railway Station based on confessions made during the initial interrogation.

The arrested individuals were identified as Chandan Gowala (57) from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, Deepak Sharma (57) from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and Rakesh (47), also from Jalpaiguri.

The police recovered a Hero Honda Glamour motorcycle used in their crimes, which was registered with a fake number.

The gang’s methods included observing potential victims at banks and using tricks like scattering fake currency notes or creating distractions to steal valuables. Their elderly appearance and temporary residence in the state enabled them to blend in and avoid suspicion.

The SP praised the relentless efforts of the police team and emphasized the importance of public vigilance. He urged residents to avoid leaving cash unattended in vehicles, to remain alert around banks, and to report any suspicious activities immediately. He also highlighted the need for secure parking practices and proper locking of vehicles.

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