In a significant breakthrough, the Bund Garden police in Pune have successfully apprehended two teenagers from Karad, aged 16 and 17, for their alleged involvement in two separate crimes: a high-value chain snatching and a vehicle theft. The duo's digital footprint, specifically an online payment for an autorickshaw fare, proved to be their undoing.
Digital Trail Leads to Breakthrough
The investigation began to gain momentum after the theft of a scooter near Pune railway station on November 22. While reviewing CCTV footage, officers noticed the two minors arriving in an autorickshaw. A crucial detail emerged: they were seen making a phone call before paying the fare. Senior Inspector Santosh Pandhare of Bund Garden police explained the pivotal clue. The police tracked down the auto driver and examined his online transaction history for that specific day and time.
The money was transferred to him from a phone number registered in Karad. This led investigators to a person in Karad, who revealed he had merely paid the auto fare for his two friends after they sent him the driver's QR code. This digital breadcrumb trail eventually guided the police to the two primary suspects.
Confession and Crime Details
Upon being traced and detained, the teenagers confessed to their crimes. The first incident dates back to July, where they are accused of snatching a gold chain worth Rs 1.2 lakh from a woman near RTO Chowk. The second crime was the theft of the scooter near Pune railway station in November.
Sub-Inspector Dhiraj Gupta provided further details on the motive and disposal of stolen goods. The duo sold the stolen two-wheeler to a resident of Karad for Rs 20,000 and used the proceeds for merrymaking. While the police have successfully recovered the stolen scooter, the gold chain remains missing at this time.
Background and Modus Operandi
Investigators shed light on the pattern of the minors. According to Sub-Inspector Gupta, the boys would regularly board a train from Karad to Pune railway station with the intent of committing petty thefts. The officer also noted that the two boys come from a poor family background, with their parents working as casual labourers. The police have emphasized that without the digital slip-up of the online auto payment, both crimes might have remained unsolved.
The case highlights the increasing role of digital transactions in criminal investigations. The Bund Garden police's meticulous follow-up on a small financial transaction demonstrates how modern policing techniques are crucial in solving crimes that might otherwise go undetected.
