The Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have arrested super burglars who used high- end cars to commit thefts in the posh areas of South Delhi. Chinmoy Biswal, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) said, “Siddharth Mehrotra along with his two associates used a Chevrolet Cruze car. One of the accused even went on to confess that he selected only politicians, bureaucrats, officers and businessman to cruze his way in”.
Explaining the modus operandi, the senior police officer said, “After conducting a recce, accused came to know that in the residential blocks in Vasant Kunj, there is no intercom system between the guards and residents and there is no checking of vehicles entering in the blocks. Then, Siddharth along with his associate Anurag Singh entered the blocks and parked his car in a safe place. They used to target the houses of the politicians, bureaucrats and senior officers' by reading the name plate on the main door. Then, accused Siddharth rang the door bell and would ran away from the spot. If the door is opened and anybody comes out, he will pretend that he came by mistake of address. Siddharth used to enter the locked house by breaking the door or window and Anurag Singh used to stands outside to keep watch.”
Biswal said, “During interrogation, the accused Siddharth Mehrotra confessed his involvements in series of burglaries along with his other associates in the area of Vasant Kunj. He further disclosed that they used to dispose of the stolen property to Jitender. At the instance of Siddharth Mehrota, Jitender was arrested from Red Fort. At the instance of accused persons, co-accused Anurag Singh was also arrested and Chevrolet Cruze Car used in crime. 11 stolen gold chains, 4 rings, 8 pair ear rings, 2 gold bangles, 200 US Dollars, 1 lakh Indonasian Rupiah, 20 Nepali Rupees, one lED TV, Sony Play Station, VR Player, one laptop and Tissot Watch were recovered.”
Keeping in mind the spurt of burglaries in South Delhi, technical surveillance was mounted and criminal records and dossiers of previously arrested burglars were also checked. Investigators said that they chanced upon Siddharth Mehrotra on Facebook whose body and face were captured in one of the CCTV footages of the cameras of the house which was burgled.
“Minute screening of the Facebook profile gave some concrete information and registration number of Ford Eco Sport Car on which he was sitting. The ownership of the vehicle was found in the name of Vikas Kumar. Details regarding the vehicle were also obtained from the Ford Company and criminal intelligence was developed to get the clue about the movement of accused Siddharth Mehrotra. On August 15, based on a tip-off that Siddharth would be in Pitampura, he was caught and arrested,” said the officer.
Police said that Further interrogation of the accused persons revealed that they are fond of living luxurious life and wearing branded clothes. They used to spend money on high end gadgets and loved to live a lavish life. Siddharth Mehrotra belongs to a well educated family. He always wears branded clothes, shoes and watches. He brought a Chevrolet Cruze car from the booty earned after disposing the stolen property.