Major Theft in Mumbai: 27 Gas Cylinders Stolen from Delivery Vehicle
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mumbai, March 28 (NationPress) In a troubling incident reflecting the ongoing shortage of cooking gas cylinders in Mumbai, 27 gas cylinders were reported stolen from a delivery tempo in the Charkop locality of Kandivali West. The police revealed that the theft occurred when unidentified culprits broke into the delivery vehicle on the night of March 25-26.
Officials stated that the thieves targeted a tempo designated for gas distribution, making off with 27 cylinders—five of which were full and 22 were empty.
The Mumbai Police have lodged a case at the Charkop Police Station against unidentified suspects and are actively pursuing leads to apprehend the thieves.
The victim, Nandkumar Ramraj Soni, a 35-year-old resident of Jai Janata Nagar in Malad West, has served as a delivery agent for Shriji Gas Service in Charkop for seven years. His job involves delivering LPG cylinders directly to customers, which is the main source of income for his family.
On the evening of March 25, Soni completed his usual deliveries and parked the tempo in Charkop around 11 P.M., intending to return the next day. The vehicle was loaded with cylinders designated for distribution the following morning.
However, upon his return at 8 A.M. on March 26, Soni found the tempo vandalized, with the glass window shattered and the rear lock broken.
Upon inspection, he realized that all the cylinders had been stolen, with the total estimated value of the theft approximately Rs 15,500.
Initially, Soni reached out to his colleagues to check if the cylinders had been relocated, but after receiving no leads, he decided to report the matter to the police.
A police spokesperson confirmed that multiple teams are in place to trace the suspects. CCTV footage from the area has recorded some suspicious individuals and vehicles, and efforts are underway to identify them.
Investigators are also interviewing individuals connected with scrap markets and illegal gas trade networks in an effort to recover the stolen cylinders.
The police have assured that the investigation is comprehensive due to the seriousness of this incident, expressing confidence in the eventual capture of the perpetrators.