Journalism of Courage
A conman claiming to be a two-wheeler mechanic went on an apparent scooter stealing spree in the city on Sunday,carefully choosing his targets.
Police said the accused took away scooters from at least four women with the motive of stealing valuables kept in the boot. Two of them have lodged complaints with the police.
In the first incident,31-year-old Rupali Shrinivas Munje of Budhwar Peth has lodged a complaint against an unidentified person at the Vishrambag police station. Police said Munje was going to her workplace from her home on a scooter. She stopped at the traffic junction at Appa Balwant Chowk around 9 am,when a man on a two- wheeler approached her from behind.
He told Munje that the rear wheel of her scooter was wobbling as the nut bolt had become loose,police said,adding that the man said she might meet with an accident if the nut bolt was not tightened. Claiming that he was a vehicle mechanic,he said he would do the needful,said the police.
Munje trusted him and handed him over her scooter worth Rs 30,500. The police said the man then acted as if he had repaired the wheel and took the scooter for a test ride for checking if it was fine,only to never come back,though he had left his two-wheeler at the spot. Munjes wallet,apart from other valuables,was kept in the boot of the scooter. Sub-Inspector P P Kirdat is investigating the case.
In a similar incident,an unidentified person cheated 30-year-old Bhavna Yogesh Bhandari of Unnati Housing Society,Kondhwa. The modus operandi in this case,too,was similar. The incident took place in Gultekdi area. She has lodged a complaint with the Swargate police. Sub-Inspector A B Koli is investigating.
During investigation,the police found Munjes scooter in Gultekdi area. Investigation revealed that after stealing money and other valuables from Munjes scooter he went to Gultekdi on her two-wheeler and approached Bhandari. Here,he left Munjes vehicle and fled with Bhandaris scooter. He stole a cellphone and other valuables from this scooter,before abandoning it in Market Yard.
Using the same modus operandi,the police believe,he must have approached another woman rider in the Market Yard area and cheated her too. It is also suspected that the conman had similarly stolen the two-wheeler that he left with Munje at Appa Balwant Chowk.
Sub-Inspector Koli said investigation was on and a sketch of the suspect would be prepared to get clues. Police have asked women scooter riders to be cautious if anybody approached them to repair their scooter wheels.
