nThe Delhi police on Sunday claimed to have busted a gang with the arrest of three people, including two women, who were allegedly involved in pick-pocketing after targeting women customers visiting banks by diverting their attention.
An auto-rickshaw driver who was partner in the crime and used to ferry the women gang members when they were out on the prowl and looking for their pray.
The gang members were arrested with the help of Google Maps, CCTV footage and facial recognition technique as the police was able to not only identify them but got their precise location too. A police team arrested Nargis (35) and Anjali (23) from Gurugram, they said.
According to police, the involvement of the gang members came to light on Tuesday last after Garima, a resident of west Delhi’s Tagore Garden, withdrew Rs 5 lakh from Canara Bank branch and came out. She was oblivious of the fact that she was being followed by two women.
The victim went to a stationery shop from there and was getting photocopies done when one woman engaged her in a conversation, while the other took out Rs five lakh by opening the zip of her bag, before fleeing the spot, according to police.
"All the routes taken by the two women were analysed with the help of CCTV footage and Google Maps. The footage matched with the criminal dossier system by using facial recognition method,”a senior police officer said.
"They commit thefts in marriage halls, farm houses, banks and pass on the valuables to other gang member who decamp with it to Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh where they belong,” the officer said.
Using GPS data of auto-rickshaws plying on the trans-Yamuna area, police zeroed in on an auto-rickshaw driver Pramod Podar, he said. Upon interrogation, it was revealed that he charged Rs 2,000 per day and ferried the gang in different malls, complexes and banks. The gang members met him in the outskirts of Delhi or Gurugram, the police officer added.
Podar has been arrested as well, he said. Raids are being conducted along with Madhya Pradesh police to catch hold of the other members of the gang, police said.