Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Jul 7: Close on the heels of an incident in which thieves had rigged a hole in the window and strong room door of Bank of Maharashtra's branch at Kirloskar factory, Harihar, comes the information that thieves entered Bank of Maharashtra's branch at Kirloskar Road in the city on the morning of Thursday July 6 in broad daylight and went away with ten lac rupees in cash.

In the first instance stated above however, the thieves had escaped with coins worth Rs 37,000 as flames of the gas cutter used by them had partially burnt all the currency note bundles stored inside the strong room.

The renovated branch of Bank of Maharashtra on Kirloskar Road here had been inaugurated on July 3. A six-member gang entered the bank premises, duly acting like customers of the bank at around 10.30 am on Thursday. Some members of the gang stood in the queue while some others got seated on chairs. Four members then joined together, acted like discussing something and then acted like making enquiries with the bank employees about something. While one of them kept the cashier busy by talking to him, another entered the cash counter from its rear door, placed ten lac rupees into a bag without getting noticed by anyone, and came out. Another member of the gang was talking to security staff at the time. As soon as the man with the bag completed his task within a few seconds and came out with the bag, the others hurriedly left the bank.

The bank staff were oblivious to the theft that had been committed in the bank for long. After about an hour since the gang made its exit, the cashier found that he did not enough money to pay to the customers, although the books showed he had enough cash with him. A detailed check revealed that thieves had taken away eight lac rupees in Rs 2000 currency notes and two lac rupees in the denomination of Rs 500 currency notes. After this was brought to the notice of the branch manager, CCTV footage was verified after which it the handiwork of the gang came to light.

Police personnel of Khade Bazaar police station here took assistance of sniffer dogs and finger print experts during their spot inspection. Police have exuded confidence of bringing the culprits to book soon as the faces of the thieves are clearly visible in CCTV footage.