Thieves sold traffic signboards as scrap in Bangalore
The accused, who worked as garbage collection agents, used to steal government property under the pretext of cleaning.
If you happen to lose your way en route to the Bengaluru International Airport, blame it on these BBMP garbage collectors who took their job of ‘cleaning’ roads a little too literally.
Five persons were arrested in a continuing police crackdown on signboard and barricade thieves in the city.
The Chikkajala traffic police, who made the arrests, charged the five with stealing B-TRAC traffic signboards in the city. The accused persons have been identified as KT Veeresh (28) and Anji alias Anjaneya (23), both residents of Sonnappanahalli, Mukundappa (55), S Eeresh (32), a resident of Yelahanka Byatarayanapura and Ravi alias Hucchugaldi (22) of Amruthahalli.
Police said the five were working as cleaners under a garbage collection contractor of the BBMP. On the pretext of their cleaning job, they stole signboards and barricades, especially from Hebbal Main Road and Bellary Road leading to the BIA. Yelahanka traffic inspector Ashok said that for the two months, sign boards on the stretch between Hebbal and airport were found missing and cases were registered at Chikkajala and Yelahanka police stations.
On Saturday, at 11.30 am, Chikkajala police noticed these men loading traffic sign boards into two Swatcha Vahini vehicles. “They confessed to stealing 147 signboards valued at Rs5 lakh. We recovered the materials from the receiver. Each aluminum and alloy sign board costs the traffic department Rs1,500 to Rs3,800. These men have been selling the sign boards at Rs 65 per kilogram,’’ said Ashok.
Police have booked them under the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Act.
Five persons were arrested in a continuing police crackdown on signboard and barricade thieves in the city.
The Chikkajala traffic police, who made the arrests, charged the five with stealing B-TRAC traffic signboards in the city. The accused persons have been identified as KT Veeresh (28) and Anji alias Anjaneya (23), both residents of Sonnappanahalli, Mukundappa (55), S Eeresh (32), a resident of Yelahanka Byatarayanapura and Ravi alias Hucchugaldi (22) of Amruthahalli.
Police said the five were working as cleaners under a garbage collection contractor of the BBMP. On the pretext of their cleaning job, they stole signboards and barricades, especially from Hebbal Main Road and Bellary Road leading to the BIA. Yelahanka traffic inspector Ashok said that for the two months, sign boards on the stretch between Hebbal and airport were found missing and cases were registered at Chikkajala and Yelahanka police stations.
On Saturday, at 11.30 am, Chikkajala police noticed these men loading traffic sign boards into two Swatcha Vahini vehicles. “They confessed to stealing 147 signboards valued at Rs5 lakh. We recovered the materials from the receiver. Each aluminum and alloy sign board costs the traffic department Rs1,500 to Rs3,800. These men have been selling the sign boards at Rs 65 per kilogram,’’ said Ashok.
Police have booked them under the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Act.