Nagpur: A gang of thieves targeting poorly guarded godowns of big traders was busted by Kalamna police. The gang used to steal consignments from godowns in the city and sell the stock cheaply in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and other neighbouring states.Five gang members were arrested for stealing betel nuts worth over Rs16 lakh from a city warehouse last week.Cops said that Shubham Marathe, with 18 theft cases, is the mastermind of the gang which identifies isolated godowns and breaks into them. “The gang disposed of the stolen consignments in neighbouring states at cheaper rates. They avoid local buyers fearing getting caught as local traders would share the information about their godown break-ins within their networks,” said a cop.Apart from Marathe, those arrested are identified as Nitesh Bhavariya (36) of Shanti Nagar (three previous cases), Mohammad Shahzad alias Atiq (37) of Jaripatka (three cases), Mohammad Irfan alias Baba (35) of Lakadganj (seven cases) and Arvind alias Bunty Yeda Ghansure (33) of Jaripatka (eight cases). Police say all five are habitual offenders. Two more accused are yet to be arrested.The complainant, Hanif Kidiya of Shanti Nagar, informed police that unknown thieves broke into his firm’s godown between Sept 12 and 14, stole betel and took away a DVR. Within four hours of the complaint being received at Kalamna police station, the team of senior inspector Praveen Kale, sub-inspector Gajanan Raut, Yuvraj Kawale and others managed to bust the racket based on CCTV footage.Investigators said the gang had been active for some time in Kalamna, Shanti Nagar, Lakadganj and adjoining pockets — areas packed with warehouses that often remain unguarded or are left with a single watchman.Four similar godown burglary cases had already been registered against the network in Nagpur city. This time their luck ran out. Though they removed the cameras and DVR of the targeted godown, their movement was captured on CCTV of nearby buildings and a toll plaza.Five of the seven identified accused were arrested. Cops recovered 85 sacks of betel nuts, valued at Rs16 lakh, and two vehicles from the thieves.Kalamna police are considering invoking MCOCA against the gang, given the organised pattern, interstate disposal of stolen goods and long criminal histories. The operation was led by officers of Kalamna police station under DCP Zone Nityanand Jha and ACP Rohit Oval.
