Burgle-burn gang strikes again

The gang also set Sharma’s house on fire — their trademark move — before fleeing,police added.

The leader of the gang,Sanju,who recently turned 18,was arrested last month.

Police said Sharma and his three-year-old daughter were in Ambala for his wife’s treatment for a heart ailment at the time of the incident. He was to return home on Sunday evening.

Police suspect the burglars entered the ground-floor house though the back door,easily opening the interlock levers of the door.

Sharma’s neighbour R N Sharma was the first to notice fire around 6 am. “When I came out of my house,I saw smoke coming out of the window. I called the other neighbours. We broke the window of the one of the rooms and tried to douse the fire by throwing water,” he said.

The neighbours,who said the fire tenders reached the spot much after the blaze had been doused,informed Sharma who rushed back to Delhi.

“There wasn’t much cash in the house,but they took away valuables like expensive clothes and some jewellery,” said Sharma,who has been living in the locality for nearly three years. “Arson did most of the damage.”

The fire destroyed electronic appliances,almirahs,beds,clothes,etc,he said.

Sharma estimates the value of stolen goods to be Rs 35,000.

Laxmibai Nagar has been the target of the gang for the last two years. Approximately 20 such cases have been reported from the area.

Exactly a month ago,a house in the adjacent lane was set on fire after burglary.

Police claim most of the gang members are juveniles.

“The only option left for us is not to leave home. The gang has such a strong network that even if you go out for a day,they come to know,” said Gautam Bhattacharya,a resident of the locality.

Police,meanwhile,said the locality has multiple exit and entry points,making it difficult to monitor all of them.

A case has been registered.

The reporter is a student of Express Institute of Media Studies