On the pretext of getting change for ₹ 2000 notes and viewing designs of gold ornaments, an unidentified gang of thieves is on the prowl, fleeing with valuables and cash in the areas of the central zone of the city.
The gang’s increasing activity has even prompted the city police to sound an alert and ask people not to fall into the gang’s trap.
Central Zone ACP N Satyanandam explained the modus operandi of the gang, that so far duped 10 persons and managed to steal ornaments weighing about 25 grams and ₹ 50,000 in the last 40 days.
“The gang members interact with the neighbours of their target and later approach the target introducing themselves as a relative of the neighbour. After talking for sometime, they seek the target’s gold ornaments on the pretext of showing it to their relative to copy the design. As soon as they get the ornament in hand, they flee,” he said. Five such cases have come to the notice of the police, as victims lodged complaints in police stations of Machavaram, Penamaluru and Patamata.
‘Note ban’ comes handy
Using a similar modus operandi , the gang members approach targets and collect their cash in ₹ 2000 denominations promising them to exchange for lower denominations. “They claimed having acquaintance with bankers and also told their victims that ₹ 2,000 notes too would be withdrawn soon and should be exchanged at the earliest,” Mr. Satyanandam said.
