Out of site! Construction material thieves around

Residents of Pulikeshinagar have alleged that some miscreants dressed in BBMP uniform have been stealing construction material from under-construction sites in the area. Residents said they caught one accused on Wednesday and handed him over to Pulikeshinagar police.

The residents allege that people in BBMP uniforms are going to under-construction sites and hauling material to make a quick buck by selling it to scrap dealers. On a rather eventful evening, the residents found three people engaged in the act and managed to nab one accused.

A resident of the area, Mohammed Farooqi, said, “We saw the three people bringing out the construction material and preparing to load it onto a tempo at 6 pm. On-site construction workers and residents became suspicious of the activity and questioned them. Out of the three, two were wearing BBMP uniforms.

Two guys were inside the premises and one was near the tempo arranging the material on the road. We managed to catch one of the accused while the others fled. The accused revealed that they had conducted another robbery the previous night as well.”

He added that the accused revealed to the residents that the scam has been going on for quite a time. “The modus operandi is to go to the construction site wearing BBMP uniform to steal material. When questioned, they state that they are from BBMP and have been given orders to collect these materials. These people go towards late evening or early morning for the activity,” he added.

Residents say that they also spotted a BBMP vehicle being used for the act. Another resident told BM that construction material worth an estimated Rs 20,000 was stolen.

Pulikeshinagar Nagar Police Station Crime Sub Inspector Rumanth Pasha told BM, “We are investigating the case. We managed to nab one. It was the other accused who later fled that had on BBMP uniform. The other two were working for the BBMP office in Benson Road.”

BBMP Zonal Commissioner (East) Ravindra PN told BM that he is unaware of the situation. “ I will speak to Pulikeshinagar Police Station and get details regarding the case. Accordingly, we will take action.”