1 week Ago
Pune: Valuables worth over Rs 1 crore are stolen from PMPML buses every year, city crime branch officials said. Police said crimes likes pickpocketing, laptop thefts, bag lifting, bangle cutting, and jewellery thefts are common on PMPML buses in the city. In 2023, police registered 195 thefts on PMPML buses, with valuables collectively worth over Rs 1 crore stolen.
Last year, in 176 cases of thefts, valuables worth over Rs 1.65 crore were stolen. In just the first three months, valuables worth over Rs 81 lakh were stolen in 41 cases of thefts.
According to the city crime branch, the worst affected routes are Satara Road, Hadapsar Road, Karve Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Nagar Road, and Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass. In 2023, police arrested 139 suspects for stealing valuables from passengers and recovered stolen valuables worth Rs 30.52 lakh.
In 2024, police arrested 74 people and recovered valuables worth Rs 11.88 lakh from them. This year, nine suspects were arrested and valuables worth Rs 2.
66 lakh were recovered. "There are various types of gangs operating in the city which specialise in thefts on board PMPML buses. Some steal electronic goods like mobile phones and laptops, while others are involved in pickpocketing, while some gangs target elderly passengers," said additional commissioner of police (crime) Shailesh Balkawade.
According to the police, gangs targeting senior citizens cut their bangles, gold chains, or steal valuables from their bags/purses after creating a crowded situation near the elderly person. Balkawade said, "Some gangs follow their victims from the bus stops and then create a crowded situation at the rear entrance doors of buses. One of them steals cash or gold ornaments and passes them on to other gang members who remain on road.
He walks away with the valuables. If a victim realises the theft and the bus is taken to the police station for checking, nothing is found," he said. Some gangs even have women members.
These gangs act as if they are a family and go on doing thefts in PMPML buses. "No one suspects if gang members pose as a family," Balkawade said. Swargate, Sahakarnagar, and Bharati Vidyapeeth police stations generally deploy woman constables on buses in sarees or plain clothes wearing a lot of jewellery.
If someone tries to steal, the other cops, in plain clothes, catch the thief. Police said majority of thefts on PMPML buses are committed by three gangs based in Mundhwa. These gangs specialise in thefts on PMPML buses, and police teams from the crime branch and local police station regularly check on them.
The other police units or different police stations regularly monitor bus stops and PMPML buses to avert thefts. Police stations on Ahmednagar Road generally deploy women constables and police personnel in uniform on buses during peak hours to avert thefts..
