A 30-year-old business management graduate combined his fascination with the police force and his desperation for money to carry out a daring heist. Dressed up as an additional police commissioner, he ‘raided’ a high-end car show-room and a well-known listings service. He and his accomplice left with expensive electronic gadgets, including smartphones and tablets. It took the police almost a month to nab him.
His uniform, helmet, holster, and the authority he exuded convinced employees in the two offices that they were being raided by the police. It took them a few hours to realise that they had been conned.
The suspect, Irfan Pasha, is a resident of B.T.M. Layout. He has an MBA degree, but was unable to get a job. “He was fascinated by the police. He decided to dress up as an IPS officer to make a quick buck,” said Inspector Manjunath B.S. of Koramangala Police Station, who arrested him on Wednesday.
According to the police, Irfan allegedly stole a visiting card from a relative who works in the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Vidhana Soudha. He made a photocopy before making a fake ID card using his photo and name. He put his designation as Additional Commissioner of Police, Security, Vidhana Soudha. He procured a police uniform with standard issue belt, shoes and a holster, said the police.
On September 16, Irfan put on his police attire and, along with his associate Arbaaz Khan in plain clothes, went to a listings company in Koramangala 7th block. “They told the security guard that they were conducting a raid in search of stolen contraband,” said the police.
While pretending to inspect the premises, the two men stole three iPhones and an iPad. After the ‘raid’, they went to a luxury car showroom on Hosur Road. Using the same modus operandi, they stole two iPhones and an iPad from the premises.
Based on a complaint, the Koramangala police examined CCTV footage and were able to trace Irfan. “At the time of his arrest on Wednesday, the MBA graduate insisted that he was an IPS officer working with the DPAR. However, he later confessed to the crime,” said a police officer. Arbaaz was picked up later.
The police have taken up a case of robbery and impersonation against Irfan and Arbaaz.
