They were also involved in a gold heist at a Manappuram gold loan finance branch in Ulhasnagar in December 2016
The Thane police on Tuesday arrested members of a gang, who hail from Nepal and Jharkhand, and were allegedly involved in several thefts at banks and jewellery stores. They were also involved in a gold heist at a Manappuram gold loan finance branch in Ulhasnagar in December 2016. The police have found more than two kilograms of gold worth Rs 77 lakh, and have arrested three persons.
The breakthrough in the case came after the Thane Crime Branch Unit I coordinated with the Indian Railways to nab Kamruddin Shaikh, 28, a resident of Turbhe after he had already boarded the Duronto Express from CST to Kolkata, which halted at Bhusaval station. Posing as passengers, a police team conducted a search on the train and managed to nab Shaikh, who was also allegedly wanted in a gold and cash heist case in February 2015.
After his arrest, Shaikh led the police to another gang member Manoj Saood ,35, a Diva resident. According to police, more than 10 persons met at Saood's residence to chalk out a strategy for the break-in.
"The gang members from Nepal were asked to conduct a recce and pass on information to other members, but they did not know how to use gas cutters. The members from Jharkhand executed the plan and decamped with jewellery. The loot was supposed to be distributed among all members", said a senior Thane Crime Branch officer.
After the arrests, a police team in Jharkhand learnt about the involvement of another gang member, Mustafa alias Akhtar Shaikh,44, a resident of Jharkhand, who allegedly took part as the lead gas cutter and entered the Ulhasnagar branch.
"We seized two kilograms and 832.06 grams of gold from him worth Rs 77,27,532, and the rest of the gold is with other gang members," said the officer.
The Manappuram gold loan finance branch in Ulhasnagar reported a theft of 27.686 kg of gold worth Rs 7,22,40,305 after unidentified persons made cavities in the bathroom passage and entered the firm's office. Using gas cutters, they broke into the vault. A case under sections 454 (house breaking), 547 (house breaking at night to commit offence) and 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Vithalwadi police station in this regard. Parambir Singh, Thane Police Commissioner, said, "Our teams are on the lookout for the other gang members."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Thane police")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}