Date:26/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/26/stories/2005042616530400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Goods worth Rs. 20 lakhs seized from three gangs

Staff Reporter

Cyberabad police make one of the biggest recoveries

HYDERABAD: In one of the biggest recoveries made in the recent times, the Cyberabad police seized stolen property to the tune of Rs. 20 lakhs after arresting 10 members of three different gangs.

The sudden change in lifestyle of two persons helped crack the mystery behind the theft of a soap-laden lorry costing Rs. 11.12 lakhs a year ago, the Cyberabad DCP M.K. Singh told a press conference. On a tip-off, Dundigal police picked up Abdul Habeeb, 24, lorry cleaner, and Ch. Mallesh, bus driver, both Ghatkesar natives, on the city outskirts.

They had driven away the lorry belonging to Hindustan Lever, when it was parked near a godown in Bachupally village. They sold the consignment of soaps in four days and abandoned the lorry on the city fringes. Of the Rs. 9 lakh sale proceeds, each spent a lakh and the remaining Rs. 7 lakhs was recovered from their houses.

Chain-snatchers

In the second case, the Miyapur police arrested four members of an inter-district dacoit gang while trying to sell stolen articles..

They were arrested near Bollaram Crossroads on Sunday night. M.R. Ambarkar of Maharashtra, Gaekwad Tahanabji and Beerdar Anand (both from Karnataka) and Shaik Sayed of Golconda allegedly admitted to have stolen 15 bikes. They also apparently confessed to their involvement in 10 chain- snatching cases in and around Hyderabad.

The stolen motorcycles and jewellery weighing 10 tolas were recovered from them. Another gang, comprising R. Sreenu, 22, Nanavath Nagesh, 21, and Udavath Ramesh, 25, all hailing from Bapujinagar of S.R. Nagar, was rounded up by the Chandanagar police on Sunday night.

A stolen bike and 20 tolas of gold ornaments, all valued at Rs. 1.70 lakh were seized from them