Three arrested for stealing over ₹12 lakh from Amazon warehouse in Greater Noida

Three men were arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing more than ₹12 lakh from an Amazon warehouse and delivery station in Surajpur in Greater Noida on January 1 after holding the security guards hostage at gunpoint

Three men were arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing more than ₹12 lakh from an Amazon warehouse and delivery station in Surajpur in Greater Noida on January 1 after holding the security guards hostage at gunpoint.

According to police, Sachin and Raj worked for a private security company that also provides its services to Amazon. While Sachin left the company three months ago, Raj Kumar was still working for it but was deployed at a different factory. Their motive for the robbery was to repay debts, and they roped in their friend Raja to help them carry it out, said police officers. (HT Photo)

Two of the suspects worked earlier at the warehouse as security guards, said police officers. The incident took place around 3am on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1, said police officers. The suspects were identified as Raj Kumar, Sachin Kumar and Raja, said police.

“Both Sachin and Raj Kumar had worked in the Amazon warehouse in Surajpur, due to which they knew that a larger amount of cash is kept in the warehouse safe on festivals and New Year’s eve. They also knew that between 2am and 3am, there is less movement of delivery vehicles at the warehouse and the night shift staff takes its snack break at this time. They timed their arrival accordingly and held the guards at gunpoint. They took the safe from the cash counter and then fled from the spot. The incident was over within minutes,” said Saad Miya Khan, additional deputy commissioner of police, Central Noida.

The police have recovered ₹12,25,631 allegedly from the suspects along with the safe and the grinder used to break it open. Three country-made pistols with five live bullets and a red Pulsar motorcycle have also been seized, said police. (HT Photo)

A case was registered against them under sections 392 (robbery), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian penal code and relevant sections of the Arms Act.

According to police, Sachin and Raj worked for a private security company that also provides its services to Amazon. While Sachin left the company three months ago, Raj Kumar was still working for it but was deployed at a different factory. Their motive for the robbery was to repay debts, and they roped in their friend Raja to help them carry it out, said police officers.

According to Khan, the police got their first lead from CCTV footage of the motorcycle on which the suspects arrived at the spot. Other CCTV footage also helped in identifying them. Based on a tip-off from informers, the three suspects were arrested from Raj Kumar’s house in Shyam Vihar colony.

The police have recovered ₹12,25,631 allegedly from the suspects along with the safe and the grinder used to break it open. Three country-made pistols with five live bullets and a red Pulsar motorcycle have also been seized, said police. The suspects were produced before a magistrate and sent to judicial custody, said police officers.