Indore: Tejaji Nagar police have dismantled a gang involved in stealing LPG cylinders from locked houses across Indore and Pithampur, arresting four men and recovering 34 stolen cylinders.
The gang's kingpin, 25-year-old Anand alias Bhuru Mandle, is a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases. Other accused include 22-year-old Saurabh Kaithwas, Aman Kaushal, and 25-year-old Rahul Patidar.
The arrests followed an investigation into the theft of LPG cylinders from Dr Lahoti's farmhouse in Mount Burg Colony on June 10. After a complaint by Kamlesh Meena, Tejaji Nagar police registered a case and launched a probe.
Police scanned CCTV footage and used technical inputs and informers to identify suspects, placing them under surveillance before making arrests.
During questioning, the accused confessed to thefts in Tejaji Nagar, Rau, Azad Nagar, Khajrana, Vijay Nagar, Kanadia, and Pithampur police station areas.
Investigators said the gang conducted daytime recce on two-wheelers, targeting locked houses. After confirming no one was inside, they broke locks and fled with cylinders.
Police noted that Kaithwas and Patidar previously worked with gas agencies and knew distribution patterns, which they used to dispose of stolen cylinders.
Besides 34 LPG cylinders, police recovered six batteries stolen from heavy vehicles and two motorcycles used in thefts. The recovered property is valued at Rs 4.25 lakh.
