Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
The thieves, who were in three vehicles including an MUV and two hatchbacks, stopped the cash van near the Ashoka Pillar and claimed to be RBI officials. He assured the people in the van that there was a complaint against his firm for violation of RBI guidelines and asked them to go to the police station to record their statements.
“Soon, the MUV loaded with miscreants stopped near Kumar. At gunpoint, the miscreants transferred the cash box to another hatchback – a Maruti WagonR – for RBI inspection. In the blink of an eye, the miscreants fled, leaving behind Kumar, his van and his MUV,” a police officer was quoted as saying by TOI. Police have begun investigation into the incident, with eight special teams led by two Deputy Commissioners of Police and a Joint Commissioner working to crack the case.
This was not the first such incident. These thieves often use disguise, deception, and other methods to commit their crimes. Here are some of the strangest robberies that have happened recently in the country:
SBI Bank Robbery: In a major bank robbery in 2024, a gang of six stole 17.7 kg of gold worth ₹13 crore from an SBI branch in Davanagere, Karnataka by breaking into the locker using a gas cutter. Karnataka Police had arrested all the six accused earlier this year.
ATM theft: In August this year, four thieves tried to steal an ATM in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city using an SUV, but failed in their attempt and fled. Later, a case was registered under sections of the Indian Justice Code for theft, mischief and common intention to commit a criminal act following a complaint by the branch manager of the bank.
Pond Theft: Last year, an entire pond mysteriously disappeared in Bihar’s Darbhanga district and a hut was built on it overnight, creating concern among the locals. The publicly owned pond was reportedly targeted due to rising land prices. Officials had earlier visited the site and taken some action, but the persons responsible reportedly continued their work at night, resulting in the pond disappearing. The alleged land mafia responsible for filling the pond had already fled when law enforcement officials arrived.
Railway Track Theft: In Bihar’s Samastipur district, about 2 km of railway track connecting Lohat sugar mill to Pandaul railway station was stolen in 2023. The track was closed for many years due to inactivity of the sugar mill. Two Railway Protection Force employees were suspended in connection with the incident. Besides, the police have also detained a father and son in this case.
Mobile tower theft in Bihar: In another shocking incident in 2023, a 29-foot telecom tower belonging to GTAL company was stolen by thieves posing as employees of the cell tower company from Muzaffarpur, Bihar. This tower was installed in the house of Manisha Kumari in Shramjeevi Nagar of the city, which falls in the Sadar police station area. When company officials arrived to inspect Kumari’s house, they found that the mobile phone tower had gone missing.
Theft of 60 feet high iron bridge in Bihar: In Rohtas district of Bihar, a gang of thieves stole a 60-foot long steel bridge in 2022 by pretending to be officials of the state irrigation department. The robbers apparently came prepared with bulldozers, pickup trucks and gas cutters and demolished the 500-tonne bridge with the help of local irrigation department personnel and people. The entire operation lasted about three days, and they escaped with scrap metal. Eight people, including a sub-divisional officer of the Water Resources Department, were arrested in connection with the theft.