Police bust gangs of teen robbers

Police Sub-Inspector Pradeep Khude, whose crime detection team busted both these gangs in the last ten days, told Express Newsline today: 8220;It is surprising how people from decent backgrounds are taking to crime; however, in this case all the eight gang members were unemployed college drop-outs.8221;

After receiving specific information that that the gang was about to attempt an armed dacoity at a photography shop in Fort, PSI Khude and his men reached the spot on the evening of October 1 in plainclothes.

However, the armed gang sensed the presence of cops and fled towards Colaba.PSI Khude, SI Vinod Sawant and the constables finally caught the youths at Mary Weather Road and booked them for recent armed dacoities.

The names of the eight youths, who are all first-timers, are Ajay Bansode, Hanumant Shetty, Ajay Kumar Yadav, Suhas Jadhav, Hyder Sheikh, Ismail Sheikh, Vinod Dube and I Wadari.

On interrogation, it was revealed that the boys needed more money to visit brothels in the city. They had recently looted Rs 2 lakh from the famous Grand Bazaar Shop, near Regal; committed another armed theft of Rs 35,000 from Britannia Stores on Wodehouse Road and also stolen expensive brass pipes from a godown Mark Heaven8217; near the Radio Club.

The other five-member gang was caught by sheer chance by PSI Khude last month. 8220;The gang was loitering near Afghan Church at 2 am where I was on patrol. I rounded them up only to find that they were about to commit yet another robbery at a naval officer8217;s house,8221; he said.

Police has recovered Rs 75,000 worth stolen property from the youths who had committed 19 house-breakings in Navy Nagar. 8220;The modus operandi was to commit theft whenever a particular naval officer8217;s family was away to clubs or parties,8221; said Khude.

Both the gangs have been put in the Colaba police lock-up till October 16.