Fuel thieves flee after injuring cops on expressway in Greater Noida
These people work in groups or gangs and target vehicles that have been left unattended or those that break down on highways, whose owners leave temporarily to get help. Since owners can track vehicles from a distance, the vehicle cannot be stolen, but the fuel can be taken out without anyone noticing, said Radha Raman Singh, SHO of Dankaur Police Station
The Noida police are on the lookout for three men who were caught red-handed in an act of theft on the highway, and escaped from the area on foot after ramming their own vehicle into the police vehicle.
The incident took place late on Wednesday night on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), when a police response vehicle (PRV) from Dankaur police station was patrolling on the route between Kasna and Palwal. The two police officers in the PRV spotted an SUV on the road with an Uttar Pradesh number plate, which had three occupants.
“Sub-inspector Vishram Singh and constable Yashpal saw the three men inside a Renault Duster stealing petrol or diesel from another car that was parked along the highway. The suspects were asked to stop their activity, but instead they tried to flee. When the PRV gave chase, the suspects rammed their Duster into the police vehicle and fled from the spot, on foot, leaving behind their vehicle,” said Radha Raman Singh, SHO of Dankaur Police Station.
Singh added, “The two officers have sustained minor injuries. We have the car registration number and are trying to track down the owner.”
Officers said they have recovered six cannisters from the Duster of which five were empty while one had 50litres of fuel, along with other equipment used to steal fuel from vehicles. A case against the three unidentified suspects has been registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and two teams have been formed to nab them, police said.
“These people work in groups or gangs and target vehicles that have been left unattended or those that break down on highways, whose owners leave temporarily to get help. Since owners can track vehicles from a distance, the vehicle cannot be stolen, but the fuel can be taken out without anyone noticing,” said Singh.
Officers said the Renault Duster appears to either be stolen or its number plate has been fraudulently changed. Officers may add more charges to the First Information Report once they get in touch with the SUV’s owner based on the number plate. Officers said they will get in touch with Haryana police to monitor such activities along the EPE, which passes through both states.