Hyderabad: Muthoot robbers traced till Sedam, next move unclear

Hyderabad: Analysis of dozens of CCTV footage and intelligence inputs by the  investigation officials in Muthoot robbery case pointed out that the gang reached Sedam (Seram) town in Gulbarga, Karnataka  in their vehicle. Sedam is considered to be a major hideout for interstate gangs. Police is investigating links with Kalburagi Muthoot loot this year, in which men pretending to be inspector decamped with Rs 3 crore worth gold. Police parties from Cyberabad have already reached places in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. 

“We analysed dozens of CCTV footages from traffic junctions across the escape  route of the suspect and we also had gathered intelligence from the ground. Where have they gone from Sedam is the big question,” said a senior official.

Police official noticed that the offenders had taken a different route while coming for the robbery thus making it difficult for cops to understand where exactly they came from.

Probe officials say that the gang must have conducted recce before striking at Muthoot.  

The striking similarity with the unsolved case of heist at Muthoot finance at Kalburagi last year have brought together TS police and Karnataka police. “In both cases, the gang used similar modus operandi,” said the official.

Muthoot Finance did not care to improve security system
Despite repeated robberies in their branches in adjacent areas, Muthoot finance officials did not care about security and that coated them the 40 Kg gold. Police say in the last year’s  heist that occurred in a different branch of Muthoot in the same area in RC Puram, the robbers took away CCTV cameras and their storage.

It also did not have a security guard. Same mistake were repeated in this branch at RC puram as well. The Muthoot officials kept the CCTV storage system at a visible place making it easy for robbers to access. There was also no alarm system or security guard for the branch. 

“At Muthoot, the robbers could just follow the cable of CCTV cameras and find the storage unit. It is always foolish to keep CCTV storage unit ( DVR) at a visible place,” an official from the Cyberabad police said.

“Every criminal know about CCTV cameras.  When they get in for a robbery, they would certainly look for the ways to damage the evidence,” he added.