Two thieves held, property worth Rs 5 lakh seized

Warangal: The urban police here have arrested two persons of a criminal gang who were known for hitting people and snatching away their valuables. The police arrested Devalli Srinivas of Hanamkonda and Vemula Ramu of Atkur village in Krishna district, informed the urban superintendent of police A Venkateswara Rao and DSP D Himavathi who produced the arrested persons before the media on Tuesday.

The police recovered cash and gold ornaments worth over Rs 5 lakh from them. The accused were used to find lonely persons follow them and hit them at isolated locations then snatch valuables from them. They usually target the businessmen who return home late hours and snatch the cash bags from them and also injure them before running away from the spot.

Gang members also attacked women in the houses in secluded places after the men-folk leave for their offices, the DSP Himavathi explained. Based on a tip off, the police arrested the accused persons on Monday, said the SP, Venkateswar Rao.

The arrest of the duo was important one as their arrest prevented attacks on innocent civilians, the SP added. He further informed Srinivas who was a readymade cloth trader and had suffered losses.

He started committing thefts to meet his financial needs by joining hands with Ramu and others. A person called Dinesh of the gang has died recently in a road accident while another associate of the gang was still at large. The SP rewarded the police who involved in nabbing the gang members.