Four held in Pune Rural for Junnar thefts; gang allegedly used walkie-talkies to evade police

Pune, October 29: Pune Rural Police have busted an inter-district gang accused of involvement in four thefts in the Narayangaon and Otur areas of Junnar taluka. Three alleged habitual offenders and a trader accused of buying stolen jewellery have been arrested. According to police, goods worth about Rs 38.5 lakh have been recovered.

The arrested accused include Waseem Munir Pathan (29), Adnan Yunus Pathan (26) and Sonu alias Mohammad Sharif Sheikh (40). All three are residents of Pimpalgaon, near Lasalgaon in Niphad taluka of Nashik district. Sagar Ashok Shinde (30), accused of buying the stolen jewellery, has also been arrested. Four people are now in police custody.

The investigation found that the gang is alleged to have used walkie-talkies instead of mobile phones to communicate among themselves, in order to evade police surveillance. This made the probe difficult.

The Local Crime Branch and Otur Police traced the suspects by examining CCTV footage and analysing technical evidence. Footage from about 150 CCTV cameras along the route from Otur to Nashik was scanned, which led police to a suspicious car.

Further inquiry showed that the car belonged to Sonu Sheikh. Police found him in Wadala in Nashik and took him into custody. The remaining accused were then identified and arrested.

Local Crime Branch Inspector Pramod Kshirsagar and Assistant Police Inspector Mahadev Shelar gave details of the operation.

Further investigation into the thefts and the disposal of the stolen jewellery is continuing. Police are trying to establish where the stolen goods ended up.