At Zuarinagar, a gang of three robbers, who tried to break into a closed bungalow, fled after firing two bullet shots at the police; police suspect the involvement of the same robbers in the house burglaries reported at Loutolim, Sancoale, Navelim and chain snatching at St Jacinto Island
Team Herald
VASCO/MARGAO: The lawlessness in the State was exposed after incidents of firing, theft and daylight robbery attempt on a senior citizen were reported at three places in Zuarinagar-Sancoale, Loutolim, and Camorlim.
At Zuarinagar, Sancoale, a gang of three robbers who were trying to break into a closed bungalow, fled after firing two bullet shots at the police, who reached the spot and foiled their robbery bid in the wee hours of Monday. In the bullet shot, a head constable sustained an injury to his knee.
The incident occurred at around 2 am Monday when three robbers tried to enter a locked bungalow, situated near MES College, whose owner is residing abroad. However, the neighbour spotted them and immediately informed the Vasco Police.
Though the area falls in the Verna Police Station jurisdiction, the Vasco Police team, which was patrolling nearby, rushed to the spot and saw that two robbers were trying to break open the door while one of the accused was on the road on the two-wheeler outside the compound keeping a watch and monitoring movements in the area.
Seeing the police, the robbers escaped on a two-wheeler before firing two bullets. Police said that one bullet narrowly missed PSI Swapnil Naik while Home Guard Prahlad Naik was injured after the second bullet bounced on the road and hit his knee.
PSI Swapnil Naik tried to nab the culprits and even took photographs of the fleeing robbers on his mobile. This was the second time the robbers had targeted the same unoccupied bungalow, the earlier theft was reported about three years ago when the thieves locked the door of the caretaker and entered the bungalow.
The police recovered an axe, a screwdriver, spanner, and two broken locks from the spot and pressed the sniffer dog and forensic team to obtain clues. The police resorted to nakabandi after the incident and managed to seize the two-wheeler abandoned by the robbers about two km away from the spot at Zuarinagar slum area.
The police later found that the two-wheeler bearing Karnataka registration number was a stolen one and that a complaint had already been lodged by the owner in this regard.
SIMILARITY IN THEFTS IN ALL INCIDENTS
The police strongly suspect that the same robbers were involved in the house burglaries reported at Loutolim, Sancoale, Navelim and the chain snatching at St Jacinto Island and an attempt to rob a gold bangle at Camorlim.
According to Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh, three persons travelling on a two-wheeler were seen in an attempt to rob reported at Loutolim, Zuarinagar and in both incidents reported at St Jacinto Island and Camorlim.
However, it is learned that in cases of thefts reported a Loutolim and Mandopa, Navelim, no police complaints have been lodged even as police teams have visited both places.
Both the houses were found to be unoccupied and locked. Police said that after making an unsuccessful attempt to pull off the bangle from a woman, the robbers went to Carvotta, Loutolim and broke open the door of the closed house.
They then ransacked the rooms and fled as it was not known whether the robbers found any valuables in the house. Similar is the case of the theft reported at Mandopa, Navelim where rooms have to be found to be rummaged. But in both cases, police complaints have not been filed as owners are stated to be living abroad.
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Brazen looters, turn elderly lady’s siesta in sleepy Salcete to horror
In Camorlim, an elderly lady resting in front of a chapel attacked by robbers; they attempted to rob the woman of her bangle but fled from the spot after she cried for help; panchayat charges the cops of repeatedly ignoring their demand to step up security, angry locals reach Maina-Curtorim Police Station
