A gang of innovative thieves created a ‘green corridor’ for themselves by using an ambulance as a getaway vehicle. They used to ferry stolen items in the ambulance to hoodwink law enforcing agencies and make a quick escape.
They ran out of luck after Ghaziabad Police arrested two of them. Their modus operandi was exposed after they were put to sustained questioning.
The mastermind behind this novel way of committing burglaries is on the run.
“This ploy worked well for them as hardly anybody suspected their intentions till they were caught by police investigating a case of theft that had taken place in the house of a city-based businessman. Their arrest led to the recovery of gold and silver jewellery worth Rs20 lakh”, Senior Superintendant of Police (SSP) Hari Narayan Singh told The Pioneer.
“The burglars identified as Adesh and Manoj had bought a vehicle and converted it into an ambulance. Their modus operandi was to dodge the police by fleeing in the ambulance. The emergency vehicle also helped them as they were not supposed to pay toll and could bypass red lights and get right of way in heavy traffic. This was their safest way to flee undetected after committing a crime”, the SSP said.
The thieves were caught by the Crime Branch of district police during investigation of a theft that took place in the house of businessman Vijay Gupta residing in Nehru Nagar (III). Thieves had stolen over Rs10 lakh in cash, when Gupta and family had gone on a pilgrimage.
During investigation, the police team received information about the suspicious movement of two persons — Adesh, a native of Odisha, currently residing in Vijay Nagar and Manoj, a native of Nayabans area of Mathura district, currently residing in the same area.
The duo confessed to have carried out the theft in the businessman’s house. They also told the Crime Branch sleuths that their gang leader is Atul Tiwari who is absconding.
Search of their premises led to the recovery of gold ornaments weighing 555 grams, coins and 1 kg silver, with the total value of Rs20 lakh. Police also seized the ambulance van parked near their residence.
During interrogation, the duo revealed that they used the ambulance in committing theft at the house of Vijay Gupta, the businessman.
Gupta had lodged an FIR at Sihani Gate police station on April 25. “Raids are being conducted to nab the mastermind as the gang is involved in many more cases of thefts and burglaries, the SSP said.