Rising Thefts in Pune Post-Diwali: Two Arrested, Hunt for Third Accused Underway
Pune, 5th November 2024: As Pune returns to routine following the Diwali festivities, incidents of theft have begun to rise, particularly in the Dhankawadi, Kharadi, and Wanowrie areas. In the three recent incidents, two arrests have been made, while the search for one suspect is still ongoing.
In the first incident, which occurred in the Balaji Nagar area on Pune-Satara Road, a woman was targeted when a thief snatched her mangalsutra, valued at Rs 25,000, yesterday. A case has been registered at the Sahakar Nagar Police Station. The complainant was walking with her daughter-in-law when the thief approached from behind, snatched her mangalsutra, and fled. Assistant Police Inspector Sagar Patil of the Sahakar Nagar Police Station is handling the investigation.
In the second incident, on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Highway, a tempo driver was threatened and robbed of mobile phones and cash worth Rs 10,680. The driver reported the incident to the Chandan Nagar Police Station, which has since arrested Yogesh Sonawane (19, a resident of Ghorpadi). The tempo had broken down, and while the driver was resting inside, Sonawane and an accomplice approached, threatened him, and carried out the robbery. The accomplice remains at large, and Assistant Police Inspector Siddhanath Khandekar is overseeing the ongoing investigation.
In the third incident, which occurred in the Wanowrie area, a woman walking on foot after leaving the Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) was targeted, and her gold necklace was snatched yesterday evening. She lodged a complaint at the Wanowrie Police Station, which quickly apprehended the thief, identified as Vitthal Manohar Khonde (31, a resident of Wanowrie).
