Delhi’s ‘thak thak’ gang distracted people by knocking, stole jewellery worth Rs 1 cr

The ‘thak thak gang’ distracted car drivers by either knocking on the car windows, puncturing tyres or in minor accidents. One of the gang members would then flee with valuables kept in the car.

About three hundred small diamonds, two diamond necklaces, 14 diamond rings, four pairs of diamond earrings, about one hundred rubies, two pairs of diamond bangles and some gold worth Rs 1 crore was what the police recovered from two persons, including a minor, allegedly involved in over 50 thefts in Delhi.

Two persons, including a minor, have been arrested for allegedly being involved in over 50 thefts in Delhi.

Deepak and the juvenile are said to be members of the infamous thak-thak gang that operated in south, north and central Delhi. They distract car drivers by either knocking on car windows and puncturing tyres and escape with valuables.

In one of the cases, the two allegedly fooled a Chandni Chowk jeweller into believing that his tyre was punctured. When he got down to check the car, they allegedly fled with his bag full of jewellery.

“A special team was deployed to curb increasing incidents of theft by the thak-thak gang in different parts of Delhi. The team gathered information about active members of such gangs operating across Delhi. On February 28, the team received information that the persons involved in the case had gone to Chandigarh to commit similar crimes,” Joint commissioner of police, crime, Ravindra Yadav said.

A team went to Chandigarh for raids but found out that the accused had returned to Delhi after committing a series of thefts in Punjab. “The team came back and acting on inputs, apprehended two persons, including a juvenile, near Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal,” Yadav said.

“These men are running an organised gang known as thak-thak gang. They distract car drivers by either knocking on the car windows, puncturing tyres or in minor accidents. One of the gang members then flee with valuables kept in the car. Juveniles are frequently being used to carry out such thefts.”

During questioning, Deepak told the police that he sold clothes to earn a living when he was approached by members of the gang, who offered him good money.

“He confessed to have committed more than 50 such thefts across north India with the thak-thak gang,” Yadav said. “We are investigating the matter and more arrests may follow,” he added.