The Hindu : Gang involved in highway robberies held

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Gang involved in highway robberies held

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI May 21. A racket in using stolen lorries for transporting goods and escaping with the consignment has been busted by the Chengai Range police. Thirteen persons have been arrested and six stolen vehicles seized. The recovered articles included 40 colour television sets and a consignment of ghee products.

Meanwhile, gold jewels worth Rs. 38 lakhs recovered by the police were restored to their owners by the Director General of Police, B.P. Nailwal.

The Chengai Police Range led by the DIG, S.R. Jangidd, was commended by the DGP for solving the major crime cases. The role of the public in helping the police in apprehending criminals was also highlighted by the DGP.

Giving details about the seizure of the six lorries, Mr. Jangidd said the modus operandi of the thieves was to follow heavy vehicles on the highways and intercept them. The gangsters would threaten the crew of the lorry at knife point and push them out of the vehicle at a desolate area. They would then escape with the stolen lorry.

The culprits would change the registration number of the lorry. Bogus documents would also be prepared for the vehicles. Using their network with transport agents these gangsters would book consignments from other States for transporting them to Tamil Nadu. These consignments would never reach their destination and the items would be sold en route, the DIG said.

In the same fashion, the gangsters had booked a consignment of 108 Videocon television sets from Aurangabad on April 14 to be delivered at Chennai. Similarly, a consignment of ghee was booked from Hyderabad. Both these consignments did not reach their destinations, but were diverted and sold illegally, the DIG said.

Enquiries revealed that the colour television sets were sold for as low as Rs. 7,500. Police were taking steps for recovering 60 television sets.

The thieves had been striking terror on the highways and the problem was also highlighted by lorry-owners during an interface with him, the DIG said. Following this, a few special teams were formed exclusively for handling this problem. Investigation revealed that the gang was using four-wheelers, including a Tata Sierra, for committing the crime.

A watch was kept on the highways and police intercepted the gang near Kancheepuram.

Five of their associates, who were following the gangsters on three two- wheelers, were also arrested. The gang allegedly confessed to being involved in a series of robberies of lorries on the highways.

Meanwhile, in another operation, a police patrol team intercepted a lorry on suspicion on the outskirts at Nandambakkam. The lorry driver, Venu, confessed to the police that it was a stolen vehicle used for transporting goods.

On his information, the police recovered four lorries reportedly stolen from Poonamallee.

Mr. Jangidd said intensified patrolling would continue to prevent crimes.

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Gang involved in highway robberies held