Chandigarh: With the beginning of the wedding season, gangs striking at wedding functions have also got active. In less than a month, the gangs have struck at four wedding functions and have stolen bags containing cash and valuables. The loss due to the theft has been estimated at Rs 20 lakh.
The latest incident was reported from Hotel Pearl, Industrial Area, Phase II, on December 13, where two suspects stole two bags. One of the bags contained Rs 60,000, three gold sets, other gold items, a mobile phone, a credit card, a debit card and documents. The other bag contained six pouches of gold jewellery, diamond sets, four gold sets, a gold mangal sutra, gold rings, around 1,000 Canadian dollars, an iPhone 6 Plus and important documents. The total loss has been estimated at Rs 10 lakh.
According to the police, all gang members have a similar modus operandi. They randomly look for hotels and community centres in the city where weddings are taking place. The suspects are dressed in a manner which helps them mingle with the crowd posing as one of the guests.
The suspects then spend considerable time at the venue to make themselves familiar with the place.
The suspects keep a close watch on the person who is collecting the “shagun” envelopes or they look for the big bags in which jewellery is supposedly kept.
The suspects then wait for the right moment to strike. “As soon the person leaves the bag or purse, the suspects steal it and calmly leave the venue,” the police said.
On November 20, thieves struck at a wedding function at Hotel Mountview, Sector 10, and decamped with a bag containing “shagun” envelopes with around Rs 5 lakh in these. The footage of the function and CCTV cameras was scrutinised after which two suspects, aged around 25, were identified.
A woman’s purse containing cash and other valuables was stolen from a wedding function at Sector 29 on December 1. The victim, however, did not report the matter to the police.
The third incident was reported from a wedding held at the community centre in Sector 37 on December 8. The miscreants stole a bag containing Rs 53,000 and gold ornaments during the marriage.
Recent incidents
Dec 13: Two bags containing jewellery and valuables worth Rs 10 lakh and around 1,000 dollars stolen from a wedding function at a hotel in the Industrial Area, Phase II.
Dec 8: A bag containing Rs 53,000 and jewellery worth lakhs stolen during a wedding from the community centre in Sector 37.
Dec 1: A bag containing cash and valuables stolen from a wedding function in Sector 29.
Nov 20: A bag containing ‘shagun’ envelopes with Rs 5 lakh stolen by two suspects from Hotel Mountview.
Gangs belong to MP: Police
Police officials claim the gangs belong to Madhya Pradesh. They spread in groups and target lavish wedding functions and then return to their native villages.
