Road robbers’ brand new ruse

Thieves in Delhi are stocking up, not on firearms or other such items of their trade, but on grocery supplies.

Thieves in Delhi are stocking up, not on firearms or other such items of their trade, but on grocery supplies.

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Yes, you heard it right.

Grocery supplies, eggs in particular, now form an unlikely part of the modus operandi of robbers operating in some parts of the city.

That such a move can be particularly offensive for vegetarians, does not seem to bother them much, or so it appears.

A spate of robberies in southwest Delhi has seen a gang of thieves pelt cars with eggs to rob drivers.

The method adopted by the robbers behind the thefts is fairly simple.

Eggs are thrown at the windshield, forcing the driver to get out of the car.

By this time the robbers have filched whatever is inside.

“In the last two months, we’ve received complaints about this method from car owners in the Palam and Mahavir Enclave area,” informs District Commissioner of Police (south-west district) Kannan Jagadeesan.

“By throwing eggs and sometimes oil on cars, the thieves distract and block the driver’s vision,” added Jagadeesan.

“This diversionary tactic adopted by the robbers gives them enough time to steal belongings from the cars,” he said.

Laptops and bags are among the valuables reported stolen most often.

The police officials say they’ve identified the Mangolpuri gang responsible for the incidents and are now working on nabbing its members.

Also, resident welfare associations across Dwarka and Palam have issued warnings to its members not to use wipers in case they get egged.

“When water mixes with eggs after the miscreants have hit the windshield, the mixture turns milky,” said Anil Dabas, president, welfare association of the Golden Heights apartment in Dwarka.

“Wipers spread it across the glass, making it opaque,” he added.

“We’ve advised people to keep driving without turning on their wipers,” said Dabas.