Gang Behind Electric Transformer Thefts Busted by Pune Rural Police, 9 Arrested
Pune, 24th June 2024: Recently, there have been numerous cases of electric transformers being stolen in the Pune District, resulting in significant losses for many farmers. A gang involved in stealing transformers from rural areas of Pune District has been apprehended by the Pune Rural Police. This action led to the recovery of over 500 kilograms of copper strips and wires, along with vehicles used in the robberies, totalling goods worth more than Rs 14 lakh.
The Local Crime Branch (LCB), Shirur Police Station, and Shikrapur Police Station were responsible for this successful operation under the guidance of SP Pankaj Deshmukh.
In this operation, nine accused individuals have been arrested. Their names and details are as follows:
1) Vishal Khandu Pawar, aged 25, resident of Ahmednagar
2) Pradeep Rajendra Shinde, aged 26, resident of Ahmednagar
3) Omkar Ajit Ghodekar, aged 19, resident of Ahmednagar
4) Aadesh Sayaji Bhujbal, aged 19, resident of Ahmednagar
5) Harshal Rajendra Shinde, aged 24, resident of Ahmednagar
6) Shrikant Shivaji Jadhav, aged 22, resident of Shirur, Pune
7) Karan Nana Mali, aged 18, resident of Shirur, native of Ahmednagar
8) Sonu Vikas Dhule, aged 18, resident of Shirur, native of Theur
9) Deepak Pandurang Sangale, aged 27, resident of Ahmednagar
Superintendent of Police (Pune rural) Pankaj Deshmukh convened a meeting with officers from the Local Crime Branch (LCB) and Shirur Division. After reviewing the crime details, Deshmukh issued instructions and established three Detection Branches (DB) within the LCB. These DBs began examining CCTV footage from locations near where the robberies occurred. Additionally, they kept a close watch on individuals with a history of criminal activities registered with the LCB. Based on reliable information from confidential sources, accused numbers 1 to 8 were apprehended simultaneously from the Talegaon Dhamdhere area. Subsequent interrogation of these suspects led to the arrest of accused number 9.
Following their arrest and questioning, the stolen vehicles and goods, including 500 kg of copper strips and wires, were seized. The total value of the seized goods amounted to Rs 14,50,000. This operation successfully resolved a total of 48 registered crimes across Shirur and Shikrapur Police Stations.
This operation was conducted under the guidance of several key officials: Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police (Baramati Division) Sanjay Jadhav, Additional Superintendent of Police (Pune Division) Ramesh Chopade, Sub Divisional Police Officer (Shirur Division) Prashant Dhole, and Sub Divisional Police Officer (Daund Division) Swapnil Jadhav.
The team was comprised of various members including LCB Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, Shirur Police Inspector Jyotiram Gunjawate, LCB Assistant Police Inspectors Rahul Gawade and Yogesh Langute, Police Sub Inspectors Abhijeet Sawant and Eknath Patil, and Police Constables Tushar Pandare, Deepak Sabale, Janardan Shelke, Raju Momin, Atul Dere, Sachin Ghadge, Ajit Bhujbal, Sanju Jadhav, Yogesh Nagargoje, Swapnil Ahiwale, Vijay Kanchan, Sandeep Ware, Amol Shedge, Dheeraj Jadhav, Sagar Dhumal, Akshay Navale, Nilesh Supekar, Akshay Supe, Hanumant Pasalkar, Datta Tambe, Ramdas Babar, Rahul Pawar, Vinod Pawar, Samadhan Naiknaware, Tushar Bhoite, Mangesh Bhagat, Sujata Kadam, Nitin Sudrik, Parshuram Sangale, Natha Jagtap, Raghunath Halnor, Nitesh Thorat, Kishore Telang, Prashant Gaikwad, and Prateek Jagtap.
