Here is how you can stay safe from the notorious highway robbers

Pune: If you are travelling between Pune and Mumbai late at night then be careful as you are likely to get robbed if you halt at isolated spots. Neither Mumbai - Pune expressway nor the old highway is safe for commuters during night. In the last four months as many as five to six robberies have taken place in the isolated place of Wadgaon-Maval.

Police Inspector of Wadgaon-Maval police station, Vijay Jadhav, said,”We have installed boards with message ‘not to halt’ at deserted areas during night on both e-way and old highway, however commuters neglect the message and they tend to stop which is the primary reason for increasing number of cases of robberies.” Jadhav added,”On an average more than seven police constables of night patrolling party are there to guard the 15 km stretch from Talegoan to Raisani. In the last five months we have registered more than seven cases of robberies on this stretch.”

On an average, the Lonavala city police register four cases of robberies every month, the three kilometer stretch from Lonavala city up to the toll naka on old highway is deserted at night due to which the number of cases in the area is on a rise. The areas like Aundh-Deole bridge on E-way and Karla phata on old highway has maximum number of cases of robberies under Lonavala rural police.

Lonavala rural police said,”Most of the time the truck drivers and people traveling by car becomes the victim if they stop on the highway. As there is lot of open space for robbers to escape which invites the robbers to do their work easily. In the last five months we have registered five cases approximately.” Surprisingly the Talegoan police station which has six km stretch of old Pune-Mumbai highway under its jurisdiction have not registered a single case of robbery in the last 12 months.

Modus of operandi

1.The common modus operandi is to put gunny bags of food grains on the third lane of the road. Which attracts commuters to stop their vehicles.
2. By throwing eggs on the windshield, so when the driver uses the wipers the visibility level goes to zero and the vehicles has to stop after 500 meters.
3. The robbers tend to pick a fight by bumping the vehicle during which they steal and run away valuables after hitting the driver.

Some Donts to remember,

Do not stop your vehicle in a deserted location
If you are been chased or someone is trying to stop then halt your vehicle near a restaurant and call the local police station.
Never stop your vehicle if someone is asking for lift at night in a deserted area.


Next time when you are traveling on Pune Mumbai highway way and you require help or any assistance then here are the numbers that you can contact.

 Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) control: 9822498224

Highway traffic control:  98334983349867598675.

Kamsheth Police: 02114262440

Lonavala Rural Police: 02114 273036

Lonavala city police: 02114 273036

Talegoan police station: 02114 222444