The 'keeda' gang uses a unique modus operandi to escape with the money from bank goers who withdraw a massive amount at one go.
A new band of thieves, who are infamously known as the 'keeda' (worm) gang, are gradually pacing up in Thane. Three cases of thievery were reported in Thane in the last three weeks.
The 'keeda' gang uses a unique modus operandi to escape with the money from bank goers who withdraw a massive amount at one go.
Amol Singh, a businessman from Thane, was robbed of Rs 1.70 lakh and his laptop by two 'keeda' gang members on February 17.
Singh had gone to the Vadavlinaka branch of the Bank of India to withdraw a sum of Rs 1.10 lakh. After placing the money in his laptop bag, he walked out of the bank. As he started feeling itchy on his neck, the 'keeda' gang members approached him and pretended that there was a worm on his neck. The two took him to a nearby hotel and offered him a mug of water to wash the worm off. As Singh obliged, the two escaped with his laptop bag.
Similarly, John Joseph, a caterer from Kalyan, was robbed of Rs 1 lakh on February 16. After withdrawing the money from his G P Parsik bank account, two 'keeda' thieves approached him and urged him to remove his shirt, pointing towards a worm in his neck. They escaped with the money when Joseph caved in.
Shrikant Pawar, sub-inspector of Kasarvadavli police station, said that the banks need to be more careful in the matter.
"Customers visit the bank, do their work and leave. To avoid such incidents, the bank security should keep an eye on people who loiter around without any reason," said Pawar. He added that the nearby banks in the area have already been alerted about the 'keeda' gang.
The first attack of the unusual gang was reported on February 6, when a Kalwa resident lost Rs 2.33 lakh which he withdrew from the Naupada branch of ICICI bank.
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