In a dramatic swimming chase across a river stream, Pune Rural Police last month arrested a gang of five armed robbers who had absconded with gold ornaments and cash worth over Rs 1 million after a daring daylight heist at a jewelery store in Khanapur.
Five thieves on bicycles attacked the gold jewelry store on the street Pune– Panshet road in Haveli taluka on December 26. Around 12:30 p.m., when the store owner, Amol Babar, and two female employees were inside, the five men allegedly entered the store wearing black masks and hoods covering their heads.
They were apparently armed with sickles and sharp sword-like weapons. Upon entering, they jumped over the counter, after which the staff raised the alarm, police said.
One of the attackers, described as having a light complexion and wearing a light brown checkered hoodie, allegedly threatened staff by waving a sickle and warned them not to shout, demanding that they calmly hand over whatever they were asked for.
The attackers then broke the glass of the display case and the counter tray placed on the table in front, removed the gold ornaments they were keeping for display and put them in a plastic bag they had brought with them, police said.
During the attack, the owner Amol Babar was holding a mobile phone. One of the attackers allegedly assaulted him with his hand, broke his mobile phone and verbally abused him. Later, one of the accused allegedly damaged two CCTV cameras installed in the store with a sickle.
Another person remained stationed outside the store, watching for anyone who approached, police said. The attackers also allegedly attacked and injured the two employees. After collecting the gold ornaments in a plastic bag, the five armed robbers left the store, police said.
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The attackers allegedly left on two bicycles parked in front of the store, heading towards Panshet. The staff then called the emergency number 112 and also contacted the owner’s wife.
Sandeep Singh Gill, superintendent of police, Pune Rural, formed six investigation teams comprising officers from Haveli police station and the Local Crime Branch (LCB). One of the first clues that the investigation teams obtained was about the movement of the bicycles with which the accused fled. As the team continued their route, it came to light that they had fled towards a forest area in Singapore village in Velhe taluka.
Thieves jump into the river after abandoning their two-wheeled vehicles
The police team reached a specific location in Velhe taluka based on the technical clues they had obtained. A local cricket match was going on and two of the accused were seen standing near the match venue. When they saw the police vehicle, they fled the scene and ran toward the river, police said.
After a chase, the suspects abandoned their two-wheeler and began running. The police team began pursuing the suspects on foot through rugged and impassable terrain.
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“The suspects approached the river and jumped into the water. Two members of the LCB team, who reached the river bank first, jumped into the river. But instead of simply swimming behind the suspects, our team members swam to the corner and nabbed the suspects on the opposite bank. Meanwhile, the rest of the police team personnel reached the opposite bank and helped arrest the two suspects. Later, three other accused were also nabbed based on the clues given by those nabbed first,” said a police officer. research team.
The police booked the arrest of two accused, Ankush Dagdu Kachre, 20, and Ganesh Bhambu Kachre, 23, and detained their three minor accomplices. Police also arrested another man who had allegedly provided a weapon used in the crime and was part of the conspiracy.
An investigation revealed that Kachre is a storyteller and had three previous crimes. Police later recovered the bladed weapons used in the robbery and most of the looted gold ornaments.
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