Gang that used kids for thefts at weddings busted

NEW DELHI: A gang of wedding thieves that operated in and around southwest Delhi's Dwarka has been busted with the arrest of the mastermind. Children aged between 9 and 15, who were auctioned between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh from villages in MP and Maharashtra, were used by the gang to carry out the crime. The children dressed as wedding guests would enter the venues and steal cash and other valuables. Police have seized Rs 4 lakh in cash and valuables worth Rs 8 lakh from the gang.On June 19, a businessman, Manoj Choudhary, filed a complaint that the briefcase containing gifts and cash for his daughter was stolen from the marriage function at Bijwasan. "A team led by ACP (operations) Rajender Singh was formed to nab the thieves with the help of the local police and anti-robbery cell. Similar incidents were also reported from other marriage functions in the adjoining areas," said DCP (southwest) Surender Kumar.CCTV footage at the venue revealed that three people, including the kingpin Raka (32) and two juveniles, were involved in the theft.The accused spent a considerable time at the venue to make themselves familiar with the place. They weren't in a hurry, had dinner and waited patiently for the right time to strike. They mingled with the crowd and kept a watch on where the cash and valuables were kept. A child was then sent to collect the bag as no one would suspect him. The gang members then fled in an autorickshaw hired on an hourly basis.The policemen kept in the check the movements of culprits previously involved in incidents with similar modus operandi, especially gangs that belonged to Madhya Pradesh. Traps were laid at farmhouses and banquet halls hosting weddings. The team also visited three villages in Madhya Pradesh to identify the thieves. "Raka was finally arrested from his house," Kumar said.Raka, a native of Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh, told the police about his accomplices, Neeraj, Kuljeet and two children. The children had been brought to Delhi after the auction and given lessons to commit such crimes for about a month. The gang had committed seven such robberies in the area.Talking about the auction, Raka said that money was given to the parents of the children in two or more instalments for hiring them for a year. The gang stayed in rented houses. Sometimes the children would be asked to steal things alone.