Watch: How Delhi Police nabs burglars who broke into Patanjali store in Sarai Rohilla

The arrested burglar, Vineet, 24, along with his five accomplices had barged into a Patanjali store in Sarai Rohilla around 3.30 am and were trying to break the cashbox. Personnel in a PCR van spotted them and arrested them.

Swift action by two personnel of a police patrol van led to the arrest of an alleged notorious burglar in Sarai Rohilla in north Delhi in the early hours of Monday. The entire police operation was captured in a CCTV camera installed at a shop in the locality, police said.

CCTV footage shows a PCR van (left) intercepts a car in which five burglars were trying to flee after a failed attempt at a Patanjali store. (CCTV grab)

The arrested burglar, Vineet, 24, along with his five accomplices had barged into a Patanjali store around 3.30 am and were trying to break the cashbox when the patrol van personnel spotted some suspicious activities inside the shop and swung into action. After seeing the police van approaching towards them with its siren and blinkers on, the burglars ran inside their car and tried to flee.

In the 31 seconds video footage, tweeted by Monika Bhardwaj, deputy commissioner of police (police control room), the patrol van is seen intercepting the burglars’ car by blocking it from its front. Finding themselves in trouble, the car driver reversed his car in his attempt to flee. However, the car’s rear portion hit a parked tempo while the patrol van driver continues blocking it from the front.

In the footage, the first policeman is seen chasing the five burglars while his colleague is seen focusing his attention on overpowering the car driver, the only burglar left in the car. The policeman first tries to enter the car through the front passenger’s door. But when the burglar tries to open the driver’s side door, the policeman jumps onto the bonnet of the car and reaches the driver’s side, where he eventually overpowers the burglar, the video footage shows.

Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (operations), identified the two policemen as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mahender Singh, in-charge of the patrol van, and Constable Amit Kumar, the driver. “The arrested burglar was handed over to the Sarai Rohilla police for further legal action. Efforts were on to nab those who absconded from the crime scene,” said Pathak.

Pathak said that the police van personnel were out to attend a PCR call. “They were on their way when they saw some muffled men inside the Patanjali store and rushed toward them. Our police staff showed exemplary courage and presence of mind that not only led to the arrest of a burglar but also averted a shop burglary. Both the staff will be suitably rewarded for their quick operation,” he added.