Thieves strike at police station, steal Rs29 lakh

Thieves stole nearly Rs29 lakh from the Uran police station in the early hours on Thursday. The culprits broke into the strong room (muddemal room) of the police station and walked away with two bagful of cash in flat 25 minutes.

The cops had cracked a fraud in the naval dockyard in Uran wherein a victim was cheated of Rs 81 lakh. Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the crime and the police had recovered Rs28.95 lakh from them. The money had been kept in the strong room.

"We have a steel door with strong locks in the muddemal room. The thieves broke the locks of the door as well of the box inside and then made off with two bagful of cash," said a police officer from Uran police station. The officer said the room had more money cash and jewelleries.

Senior Inspector Rajendra Galande of Uran police station said, "The muddemal room is located in a different building, which was constructed during the British era. Just in front of that building, we have our parking lot and the tehsildar's office is also located there. Several people, including tea vendors, hawkers and citizens enter the premises."

Galande said they do not have any clue about the culprits as there are no CCTV cameras installed in the building. "We are also questioning our officials who were on duty that night," he said.

Sanjay Yenpure, deputy commissioner of police (zone II) said, "Since the incident took place on our own premises, we are exploring all possible angles. It is however, too early to suspect involvement of any of our official in the crime."