Alert cop chases bag lifters for 3km, foils robbery

ULHASNAGAR: An alert cop returning home from late-night duty thwarted an attempt by two bikers to flee with a bag of valuables stolen from a businessman’s vehicle on Thursday afternoon.
The thieves stole the bag of a businessman by breaking the glass of his Audi when it was parked at a petrol pump, while the driver’s attention was diverted. The incident took place at around 1.30pm in Ulhasnagar, when businessman Mahesh Agrawal’s driver Saji Varghese had taken his car to Kajal petrol pump.Agrawal is the managing director of the Regency Group, which has several big building projects in Mumbai, Thane and Lonavala.
Police said after filling petrol, Varghese noticed air pressure in the tyres was low and he went to refill air when two youths on a motorcycle smashed the glass of the car. As soon as they broke the glass, the car’s alarm was activated but before Varghese could reach the car they fled with the bag, containing valuables worth Rs 8 lakh including diamond jewellery of Rs 5 lakh.
Police said Varghese immediately called up Agrawal who in turn contacted Sanju John, an inspector from Kolsewadi police station whose number he had. John alerted Vijay Dolas, senior inspector of Central police station in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.
Dolas said he passed the information to all his teams, including sub-inspector Nilesh Yevale, who was returning home in the afternoon after completing night duty.
Dolas said Yevale, who was travelling on a bike along the same route, started searching for the suspects and finally noticed them near Powai chowk. Yevale followed them for over three kilometres and later near Chakki Naka in Kalyan East, he overtook them and tried to nab them. However, both the accused fled leaving the bag and even their motorcycle on the road.
Dolas said, “All the valuables were recovered within one hour of the incident and we are now searching for the accused. The work done by Yevale is appreciable as night duty usually ends at 9am but despite being on duty till 1.30 pm, after my call he successfully foiled the bag lifting attempt.” Dolas said they recovered CCTV footage of the accused and expect to nab them soon.