3 juveniles detained, man held for robbery

Police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of a 22-year-old man and detained three juveniles, who used to lift bags and costly items from cars after puncturing the vehicles.
The accused, identified as Vikas (22) and his three juvenile associates were nabbed by the Special Staff, South District yesterday.
Police has recovered stolen gold items worth Rs 20 lakh and cash Rs eight lakh and a Scooty used in the commission of crime.
In the recent past, several incidents of bag lifting from the cars by puncturing the tyre of vehicles were reported in various parts of Delhi and NCR.

A team of Special Staff was tasked to trace those behind it. During investigation, it came to fore that a bag lifting group of juveniles known as "Tyre Puncture Group" of Madangir, Delhi might be involved in these incidents.
"A tip off was received yesterday that members of this group would assemble at Asian Market, Saket to proceed further for the disposal of stolen gold jewellery articles and cash. A trap was laid and accused Vikas who came there on a Scooty having a bag with him along with three juveniles was apprehended," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) B S Jaiswal.

During interrogation, Vikas disclosed that he had stolen all the recovered gold jewellery and cash last week, from a car near ITO, with the help of his juvenile associates.

"The modus operandi of the gang is that initially, they used to identify the vehicle in which bag is kept on the seat. Then, they would puncture the tyre of the targeted vehicle with a sharp edge instrument or by throwing the sharp edge instruments of iron on the road," said Jaiswal.
When the driver of vehicle stops his vehicle at the red light, they would follow the targeted vehicle and would inform the driver that the tyre of his vehicle has been punctured, he said.

One of the members of their group used to steal the bag containing cash and other valuables from the vehicle while other members would divert the attention of driver or on the pretext of extending help to the driver, while he remains busy in replacing the tyre.
Further investigation of the case is in progress and efforts are being made to affect more recoveries and to link their other associates as well as to probe into their previous involvements, police said.