Sambalpur: Helmet-Wearing Thieves Strike Again in Sambalpur; Elderly Man’s Gold Chain Snatched, Captured on CCTV
Increasing Incidents of Theft in the City
Sambalpur: Cases of theft and robbery are on the rise in Sambalpur. To combat these crimes, the police have set up checkpoints in different areas and installed CCTV cameras. However, thieves are adopting new tactics to evade detection, including wearing helmets to hide their identities. Often, before the victim can react, the thieves swiftly rob them and escape. In recent months, a gang on motorcycles has been creating chaos by snatching valuables like gold, cash, and mobile phones from people.
Recent Robbery Caught on CCTV
Today, at the Mahanadi Vihar Service Road in front of the Lat Bagicha near the Ainthapali police station, two helmet-wearing thieves targeted an elderly man, stealing his gold chain. The thieves arrived on a bike without a license plate and quickly robbed the elderly man of his gold chain and rings before fleeing. This incident was captured on CCTV, and after a formal complaint was filed, police registered a case and began their investigation.
Elderly Man Targeted by Thieves
According to reports, Shyam Sundar Guru from the Bansidhar Nagar area under Bareipali police station was returning home from Ainthapali on his scooter around 11:00 AM. Two helmeted men, on a bike with no license plate, began following him from the bus stand area, attempting to distract him by calling out “Kaka” (uncle). As he ignored them and continued, the thieves got close to him near a petrol pump, stopped their bike, and snatched his gold chain and ring. They then quickly escaped toward the bus stand. A similar robbery attempt occurred three months ago when the same elderly man was returning home with his wife.
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Repeated Incidents Cause Concern in Ainthapali Area
Such robberies have become a regular occurrence in the Ainthapali bus stand area. Local residents are demanding a permanent police outpost to curb these incidents. However, they allege that the police have yet to take adequate action. Crime is rising in Sambalpur with frequent thefts, knife incidents, drug abuse, and illegal liquor trading. There is a perception among residents that the police are struggling to control these criminal activities effectively.
Helmeted Thieves Remain Elusive
The police find it difficult to catch the thieves due to their concealed identities. Similar incidents have occurred frequently in Sambalpur, with thieves snatching jewelry from individuals. In January, a couple riding a scooter near the Mudipada water tank junction were targeted, with the thieves grabbing a gold chain from behind. In June, a woman and her mother-in-law were robbed while returning from a jewelry store in Badabazar area. Last month, a woman near Sakhipada’s Idgah area also became a victim, as thieves snatched her gold chain on her way back from a bank.
Repeated incidents like these have raised safety concerns, with residents pressing for stronger action from the police. However, the helmet-wearing thieves remain challenging to identify and apprehend, making it difficult for law enforcement to address this growing threat effectively.
