Pune: Despite heavy security measures for the Ganesh festival, ten more incidents of gold chain theft were reported on Laxmi Road, Belbaug Chowk, and adjoining areas in the city between Sept 5 and 7.In all, the Vishrambaug police registered 18 FIRs against thieves based on complaints filed by women on Sept 7 and 8. Police said that thieves dressed as devotees exploited the large crowds attending the festival’s Ganesh idols, decorations, plays, and musical events organised by mandals to steal women’s chains collectively valued at Rs 4.45 lakhs before fleeing.Victims initially did not realise what happened and later approached police for help in finding their jewellery missing, police said. Senior inspector Santosh Pandhare on Tuesday, said that police teams are analysing CCTV footage, checking records of criminals involved in property offences, and working on certain clues, hoping to detect all cases.
