What began as a high-stakes theft at a godown in Thane’s Bata Compound—where thieves made off with Rs 51 lakh worth of goods and even the DVR unit to erase CCTV footage—has led the Thane Crime Branch to a breakthrough. A notorious interstate gang of six, known for precision thefts, is now under the scanner. Three members have been arrested so far, linked to at least six cases this year across Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Aurangabad. Two are repeat offenders with a staggering 38 prior cases between them.

The case surfaced on July 15, when a cigarette distributor reported a theft of Rs 51 lakh from his godown in the Bata Compound area under Rabodi police jurisdiction.

Though the accused stole the DVR unit to wipe CCTV evidence, parallel technical analysis by PSI Dayanand Naik and Constable Sandeep Mahadik traced visuals of four suspects.