Spate of thefts on Atal Sarige buses blamed on wide body of vehicle that allows a crowd inside
Spate of thefts on Atal Sarige buses blamed on wide body of vehicle that allows a crowd insideAtal Sarige, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (BMTC) special bus service for the less-privileged, has proven to be expensive for the poor, as quite a few passengers have ended up losing their valuables to thieves in these buses.
|
|
IT'S A STEAL: The Atal Sarige may be light on the pocket, but thieves are having a field day on it by lightening pockets |
In the last month, four cases of theft in Atal Sarige buses have been registered.
The fact that the bus has a wide body makes it easier for thieves to steal, feel the police.
The most recent incident took place on Monday. Devamma, (82), who was travelling in one of the Atal Sarige buses with her teenaged grand daughter, was midway through her journey, when she realised that her gold chain worth Rs 45,000 was missing.
Investigating officials of Kumaraswamy Layout Police station found that Shivaranjini (22) and Prema (20), who hail from Hosur in Tamil Nadu, were behind the theft.
Kumarswamy Layout Police Inspector Babu Noronha said, "We found that the two women come to Bangalore from Hosur early morning every day and return in the evening. The accused duo targeted crowded buses, mainly the Atal Sarige service, since they are both crowded and have extra space. The design system helps them snatch the valuables."
u00a0
Noronha added that officers especially trained for these kinds of thefts laid the trap for the women.
"Investigations have revealed that they are sisters and professional chain snatchers. They are both under arrest," said the police officer.
When asked about the thefts, Sampangi Ramegouda, a BMTC officer said, "I don't know about this but we will take necessary steps."
