Brake on robbery as getaway car stalls

VADODARA: They could have fled from the city after robbing a woman outside an ATM on Ajwa Road. However, an unexpected car breakdown close to the Bapod police station led to the cops busting an inter-state gang which has been cheating and robbing people over past eight months. One of them was nabbed by Bapod police on Sunday while others fled.

The gang is involved in nearly 40 cases of cheating and robbing in four states. Their latest victim Vaishali Patel (29) was trying to withdraw money from an ATM booth on Ajwa Road on Sunday afternoon. Three members were standing behind her. “When Patel was withdrawing cash, one of the accused asked her to press the yellow button on the ATM and allow him to proceed rather than wasting time. He withdrew money from her account after ensuring non-cancellation of Patel’s transaction,” said Saroj Kumari, DCP (crime).

“Vaishali realized she had been conned after receiving an sms of Rs 10,000 being withdrawn from her bank account. She attempted to question the accused who pushed her away and fled the spot in a white car. Patel followed them on her two-wheeler,” Kumari told TOI. The car broke down right in front of the police station where Patel reached in a few moments and recognized it. The accused attempted to flee after she raised an alarm which attracted the attention of a few cops. They chased the accused and nabbed Nitesh Chauhan, a UP resident.

“We recovered Rs 39,660 from Chauhan, including the cash he had robbed from Patel.” said F K Jogal, PI, Bapod. Chauhan revealed names of the other accused who have been identified as Ankur Chaudhary, Ankit Chaudhary and Bipin Chaudhary, all residents of Uttar Pradesh.