Rae Bareli, January 12: The Rae Bareli police has busted a vicious interstate gang that was involved in temple- theft using modern technology, police told.
As per the police, a joint team of the Jagatpur police station and the Special Operations Group (SOG) on Monday arrested members of the ‘Google Map Gang’ and recovered a large quantity of stolen goods from them.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr Yashveer Singh stated that the gang’s modus operandi is astonishing. The gang leader is a resident of Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. After committing crimes and then moving to a new city, they would identify famous and wealthy temples there through Google searches. To avoid detection, the gang had developed a unique ‘security shield’.
According to the Superintendent of Police, the gang members kept a woman with them. Whenever there was a police checkpoint on the way, they would claim the woman was seriously ill, gaining police sympathy, and would leave without further scrutiny. Superintendent of Police Dr. Yashveer Singh stated that the arrested accused have a long criminal history. They have committed thefts not only in temples in Rae Bareli but also in the neighboring district of Unnao. Using Google location, they targeted deserted and prominent temples. Currently, the police are rigorously interrogating the arrested accused to uncover thefts in other districts.
Police recovered brass bells weighing over 3 quintals and a four-wheeler used in the crime. Interrogation revealed that the gang had committed thefts in several areas, including the Jagatpur police station area of โโRae Bareli.