Vadodara: Four persons, who robbed an employee of cash management firm of Rs six lakh in full public view in Karelibaug on Thursday, had charted out a proper plan to execute the crime.
On Friday, police recovered the car used the crime and found that the gang had robbed it from a morning walker near Navlakhi Ground last week. They had abandoned the car on Fatehpura-Bhandwada Road.
On June 23, they had targeted a senior citizen identified as Pradeep Kadam who had gone for morning walk in Navlakhi. “When he was walking towards the car, three men caught hold of him. They snatched the keys and fled with the car. We registered a complaint of loot at Raopura police station. The car found abandoned on Friday is ours,” said Aditya Kadam, the car owner’s son.
Police are scanning surveillance footage from around where the car was found.
RI Jadeja, police inspector, Karelibaug, said, “They made some modifications to the car so that it won’t be recognized. The windows were transparent but the accused put tinted film on it. They also put on a fake number plate and inscribed ‘Police’ on it. They changed the colour of steering wheel and removed the seat covers.”
Police found the empty bag from which the accused had taken all the cash. Police have also found five fingerprints. Cops suspect the accused are from the city because they stole and abandoned the car here.
Police said the trio must have planned the robbery well in advance. They first robbed a car, modified it and also did a recce of the cash delivery van’s route and routine. On Thursday, the trio reached the spot when the van stopped, near Spring Hall Complex at Karelibaug, to refill cash in the HDFC ATM.
One robber snatched a bag full of cash from Ankit Thakur, an employee of a cash management services firm, while the other two attacked him. The guard accompanying the van opened fire but the accused managed to escape. Thakur was stabbed by one of the accused in his stomach and hand. The car in which the accused fled also met with a minor accident later.
