Miscreants snatch Rs 2.55L from security agency staffer

Bhubaneswar: Two motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched Rs 2.55 lakh from an employee of a private security agency in Infocity area here on Friday.
The snatching took place at a multi-storey building where the victim, Sisir Mohapatra, an office assistant at the security agency, has his office. Mohapatra said that after withdrawing money from a nationalised bank at Infocity Square around 1.20 pm, he rode his bike towards his workplace.
The snatchers, who were tailing him on their motorcycle, grabbed his bag containing the cash and lunch box as he was parking his bike on the office premises. Despite Mohapatra's attempts to chase the criminals and his calls for help, they managed to escape. He filed a complaint with the local police station.
"I strongly suspect that the criminals might have observed me at the bank without my knowledge. They followed me to my office. I wonder how they knew about the cash in my bag. I have requested police to check the CCTV footage on the bank premises and outside," Mohapatra said.
Mohapatra said he withdrew the money for his son's college fees, house rent, and health-related expenses. Infocity police officers visited the crime scene and obtained CCTV footage from both the bank and Mohapatra's office building to investigate the incident.
"A special team has been formed to solve the case and arrest the culprits. We are also examining previous similar incidents in the vicinity for potential connections," DCP Pinak Mishra said.
The theft, which came in the backdrop of a spurt in house break-ins, has sparked security concerns in Infocity area, which is home to several IT firms and educational institutes. Residents and office workers have called for enhanced police patrolling during banking hours.