Alert residents foil robbery bid

Bengaluru: Alert citizens proved a blessing for a building contractor, who had been robbed of Rs 2 lakh on Magadi Road in Basaweshwaranagar police station limits on Monday afternoon.

The citizens caught hold of one of the two robbers and handed him over to the police. The incident occurred at around 2.30 pm.

The accused has been identified as Anand (35), while the police are on the lookout for his accomplice, who escaped with the money bag.

The victim, Surya Prakash (45), was heading home on his bike after withdrawing Rs 2 lakh from Karur Vysya Bank on Magadi Road. He had kept the money in a black pouch at the front of his bike. After riding a little distance, he realised that his bike tyre had a puncture and got down to check.

“Anand and his accomplice, who were passing by on a motorbike, offered to help and Prakash agreed. While Anand and Prakash were fixing the tyre, his accomplice grabbed the pouch and fled.

Anand also tried to run, but alert public, who heard the shouts of Prakash, chased the thief and caught him. Later, he was handed over to us. We are interrogating him to establish the identity of his accomplice," the police said.

The police are investigating whether Anand and his accomplice had planned the theft and punctured Prakash’s scooter tyre as part of their plan. A case has been registered in Basaweshwaranagar police station.