Thieves cheat elderly posing as policemen (Pune)

PUNE: Four citizens were robbed of their gold ornaments worth Rs 1.15
lakh in separate incidents in the city on Sunday morning. The
suspects,

Posing as policemen, managed to flee with the jewellery.

The first incident took place at Kothrud around 7.15 am, when
63-year-old Usha Anil Gokhale of Erandwane was on her way home after
her morning walk. Three men on a motorcycle stopped near her. One of
them told her that they were policemen and had come to the
neighbourhood to enquire about a murder. He asked her to remove her
gold ornaments for safety. The men then fled with the jewellery, worth
Rs 35,000.

Around 8 am, 80-year-old Narayan Ganesh Paranjape of Karvenagar also
fell prey to thieves using the same modus operandi. The suspects fled
with Paranjape's gold ring worth Rs 7,000. The incident took place
near Mhatre bridge.

Both cases were registered with the Kothrud police who admitted they
were not sure whether the same people were involved in the incidents.
Sub-inspector U S Patil is investigating the matter.

The third incident took place around 9.15 am on Sus road in Pashan.
Two persons came up to Mamkaur L P Ram (52) of Maurya Residency,
Pashan, and told her that the police were doing some checking up at
the next chowk. They asked her to remove her gold ornaments or else
she would have to pay a fine. The suspects got her to remove her gold
chain worth Rs 25,000 and on the pretext of keeping it in her purse,
fled with it. Sub-inspector P B Jawale of the Chatushrungi police
station is investigating this case.

A similar incident took place at Pimple Gurav around 9.45 am. Anita A
S (50) was walking home when two suspects, posing as policemen, stole
her gold chain worth Rs 48,000 after asking her to take it off.
Sub-inspector D B Koli of Sangvi police station is investigating the
case.

The crime branch is also conducting a parallel investigation as such
incidents are on the rise.

So far this year, around 35 such incidents have been reported in the
city. Investigations also reveal that the suspects usually target
senior citizens on their morning walk. The crime branch of Pune has
appealed to senior citizens to remain alert.

Speaking to TOI assistant commissioner of police (crime) Sangramsinh
Nishandar said, "We are planning to lay traps to nab the suspects.
Unit-1 and the anti-robbery unit of the crime branch are working on
it. Moreover, we have appealed to citizens to immediately contact the
nearest police station or the crime branch should such an incident
occur. We have also appealed to them to note down the number of the
two-wheelers used by the suspects and inform the police. The crime
branch can be contacted on 020-26121685 and 26208295."

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URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Posing-as-policemen-these-thieves-target-senior-citizens/articleshow/5262382.cms