Relieving people of their valuables by diverting their attention has become commonplace in the city.
Nine such cases have been reported so far this year.
A. Arvind, a software engineer, was tricked by two men on Suranjan Das Road in the Jeevan Bima Nagar Police Station limits on July 18.
According to the victim, a resident of Chalaghatta, he was carrying Rs. 10 lakh in cash to deposit in a bank on Richmond Road. However, the bank refused to accept the money as he was not carrying the PAN card.
“Two motorcycle-borne men overtook his car and told him that the vehicle's fuel tank was leaking. Aravind got out of the car to check, and minutes later found the cash bag kept next to the driver's seat missing,” an officer at the Jeevan Bima Nagar Police Station said.
Not new
According to sources in the State Crime Record Bureau , every year at least 10 people, especially youngsters, lose their money and valuables to tricksters in the city.
Ramjinagar and Malur gangs were notorious for relieving gullible people of their money by diverting their attention, the officer said.
“Despite awareness programmes by the Police Department, people are still falling prey to tricksters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast Division) P.S. Harsha said.
Some organised gangs are operating in the city. The police arrested dozens of tricksters in the last few months. The police are alerting the public through publicity material. Banks, based on police request, have displayed caution notices about tricksters near cash counters, Mr. Harsha told The Hindu .
According to an officer who arrested six tricksters recently, such miscreants select their preys in banks. Posing as account holders, they enter the bank and sit close to cash counters.
“They, at least two people, will observe customers who withdraw huge amounts and later follow them on their motorcycles. Before the driver starts the car, the miscreants will throw engine oil or other liquid on the vehicle, mostly near its fuel tank. Later, they will follow the car,” said DCP (West Division) S.N. Sidramappa.
“When the car reaches a less populated area, the tricksters ‘alert' the driver about the ‘fuel leakage'. And when the driver gets out of the car, the tricksters vanish with the cash bag. In many cases, they deflate one of the tyres to have their way.
“In almost all such cases, the drivers get down without suspecting foul play and start inspecting the car even without locking it,” he added.
