Apartment guards nab ‘shoe thief’ after a chase

Whitefield DySP fetes them for their bravery, hands over appreciation certificates.

Praveen Kumar | NT

Bengaluru, Jan. 29 Even though they were attacked by four armed ‘branded shoe thieves’, the two security guards of an upscale apartment in Whitefield foiled a theft attempt and caught hold of one of the gang members.

The incident happened at the Sanvi Sahana Apartment complex located at Immadihalli in Whitefield around 2 am on Friday.

The guards have been identified as Jagath Bora and Padam Bora, both hailing from West Bengal. The guards were staying in the basement of the apartment.

“A gang of four shoe thieves entered the apartment to steal branded shoes. The two security guards saw them and began a chase. While trying to escape, the accused four hurled flower pots, stones and whatever items they could lay their hands upon. One of the guards got hit by a flower pot on his chest. Despite the attack, the guards managed to nab one of them. Both the guards have risked their lives and have helped the police in nabbing an offender. Efforts are being made to arrest the other three whose identification details are available with the police,” Whitefield division’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) S Girish told NT. After the thief was nabbed, the guards immediately informed the police to take him to their custody. The night beat officers who rushed to the spot appreciated both the guards and also gave them a cash reward as a token of appreciation.

The nabbed thief has been identified as Raju alias Aiynoor, a resident of B.G. Road. After his arrest, his wife is said to have come near the police station demanding his release. However, she later left fearing police action.

Lauding the efforts of both the security guards, the DCP felicitated both the guards at his office with appreciation certificates on Friday.

The DCP has also tweeted about the guards by posting their pictures and tagged the city police commissioner, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) and the Bengaluru City Police. In the tweet he has mentioned that he presented the appreciation certificates to security guards Jagath Bora and Padam Bora, who helped the Whitefield police in nabbing a thief.

“The accused, who are professional shoe thieves, steal branded shoes from apartment complexes. They then wash it and sell it for cheaper prices in Shivajinagar, City Market and other parts of the city.” said an officer on part of investigations. Further investigations are on.