Using cricket as cover, teens rob valuables of Rs 10 lakh to bet on T20 | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Using cricket as cover, teens rob valuables of Rs 10 lakh to bet on T20

Hindustan Times | By, Jamshedpur
Apr 20, 2016 11:19 AM IST

A gang of teenagers in Jamshedpur used neighbourhood cricket games as a cover-up to steal valuables from houses and use the money to bet on T-20 ties.

A gang of teenagers in Jamshedpur used neighbourhood cricket games as a cover-up to steal valuables from houses in broad daylight and use the money to bet on T-20 ties, police said on Tuesday.

(Representative image) A gang of teenagers in Jamshedpur used cricket games as a cover-up to steal valuables from houses and use the money to bet on T-20 ties.(Picture courtesy: Shutterstock)
(Representative image) A gang of teenagers in Jamshedpur used cricket games as a cover-up to steal valuables from houses and use the money to bet on T-20 ties.(Picture courtesy: Shutterstock)

The 12-member gang of mostly minors would recce up market neighbourhoods to identify households with few occupants or where the family was out of town, sources said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Once they zeroed in on a particular house, six to seven people would play cricket outside, using the game to provide cover to other members of the gang who would sneak into the house to steal cash and other valuables, they added.

The ruse of the game wouldn’t arouse the suspicion of neighbours and help the gang keep a look out for approaching police.

“The 12-member gang executed at least six burglaries worth about Rs 10 lakh in broad daylight. We’re raiding for one of the kingpins who invested the looted money in cricket betting and hope to nab him soon,” said Chandan Kumar Jha, city SP.

A special police team arrested four members – all aged 15-16 years – of the gang from Bagbera on Tuesday night. Police recovered four mobile phones, four gold chains, a Nikon camera, Aadhaar Cards and Rs 11, 000 in cash.

Police said one of the gang’s kingpins and two associates were involved in the city’s cricket-betting syndicates.

“We’re raiding all betting dens and have sent big bookies like Jamshed Ahmad alias Jumbo to jail, who had shot Rahul Chanbra over pending payment of Rs 72, 000 for betting during the recent Asia Cup T-20 championship in Bangladesh. We’ve also sent his partners to jail,” said Jha.

Police investigations also identified about two dozen big businessmen in the city who regularly bet Rs 2-3 crore on IPL and T-20 matches. “The betting network is now being run through links in Kolkata, Nagpur and Mumbai,” a senior police official said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Debashish Sarkar is a special correspondent based in Jamshedpur. He has been covering government, administration, politics and crime among other things.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On