News
Arrest of robber gang that tricked its way into gold shop
Seven weeks after a robber gang of four claiming to be officials from a “Foreign Bureau” checking on Indian nationals working illegally as goldsmiths in jewellery shops got away with 3.7 kg of gold worth nearly Rs 30 million and Rs.100,000 in cash the mastermind – a former sub inspector of police – and seven others have been arrested.
The sub inspector (SI) and a former Special Forces deserter were arrested in Galenbindunuwewa this week after they were placed under secret surveillance and their phones monitored. Information gained from them led to the arrest of another army deserter and others in the gang, Chief inspector G.W.L. Ravindra of the Peliyagoda Crime division said.
Investigations revealed that after sharing the gold and cash from the robbery the gang had scattered.
The ex-SI and ex-SF member had tried to escape from the country by boat after paying Rs 500,000 each. On a tip-off, police had surrounded the area but the two had escaped. They were arrested later.
It was revealed that a businessman had given a gang member, one of the former soldiers, a contract to break into the jewellery-manufacturing shop at Wolfendhal Street, Colombo 13 and scare the manager into vacating the premises so that he could then take over the shop.
The gang members, however, formed a plan to use the opportunity to steal the gold. The businessman who gave the contract for Rs 1 million has been arrested and the gang suspects have been placed under a 14-day detention order.
The former SI had entered the shop and displayed an identity card stating he was an officer of the “Foreign Bureau”. He said he had information that Indian nationals without valid visas were employed there and that a stock of unlicensed gold was also in the shop. The ex-SI stayed with the manager and ordered his men to search all four floors of the building. Nine Indian nationals working there had their passports and mobile phones seized. Each employee was handcuffed and put into a room.
Following a 40-minute operation the gang left the premises with 3kg of gold, padlocking the main gate.
The police, on being summoned, identified the vehicle in which the gang escaped from CCTV footage obtained from nearby premises and were also able to identify the former SI.