TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Imagine a situation wherein a gang which steals belongings from cars parked on the roads of Goa is caught but they could not be interrogated because they know just Tamil and police don’t know their language.
Such was the fate of the Goa Police when they arrested members of the “Trichy Gang”, allegedly involved in several car thefts across the State, this February. Five members of the gang during their interrogation by police did sing, but the interrogators did not have a clue about what was being disclosed. Finally, a translator was roped-in and chargesheet filed.
Gang from Tiruchirapalli is considered by police to be the main one active in vehicle theft across Goa and its members are known not only for stealing cars and bikes but also for their deceptive techniques where they divert attention of the driver before lifting valuables from cars.
The 10-rupee-note trick is a common one ~ the driver is told that his money has fallen on the road and when the driver leaves the seat to pick up the note, the gang flees with whatever valuables they find in the car… and sometimes the car itself!
Goa Police which has been receiving complaints of vehicle thefts and theft of belongings from cars confirmed that the Trichy Gang is the only organized gang operating in this space, as it were. There are other, local solo operators, of course but nothing organized. Overall, police receives at least ten cases of thefts relating to cars and two-wheelers each week.
Also, another sophisticated kind of car theft crime has targeted agencies giving cars out on rent. Sources said that some people come to Goa as tourists or businessmen and rent out swanky cars for a few days. To earn the trust, they return the cars but on their next visit they steal it and flee to another State.
“The identity proof and other documents turn out to be fake, which car owners do not cross check. These people then take the car to their native places in Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra and sell the car by changing the number plates or sell car parts,” he said. Many-a-times, the cars are also found abandoned along highways.
The most common theft in Goa is that of two wheelers. “This could be the handiwork of some gang or even individuals,” said the officer.
The thefts do not occur at a particular spot but from different places and parking spots. The police claim that in certain cases, the stolen bikes are used to commit thefts by either changing the number or retaining it. During the tourist season, bike thefts increase.
Back to the notorious gang ~ these burly men usually scout for gullible people in the cities and towns. After they strike, they immediately deposit the stolen cash in the ATM, a senior police officer said, adding that their behaviour is uncommon to any normal thief who may prowl around with the booty.
“They have a joint account with their family members or their wives. They deposit the cash through ATMs …” said an investigation officer.
It is also pertinent to note that many vehicles, majority of which comprises two-wheelers are abandoned at the police stations.
“Those with dents are accidents vehicles but the good condition vehicles are mostly the stolen ones which are recovered by the police. But hardly owners claim their vehicles because they get their insurance,” he said.
