Gold to pebbles

Gang of conmen posing as fake police exchange woman's gold chain and ear studs worth Rs 70,000 with pebbles wrapped in paper

Gold to pebbles

Gang of conmen posing as fake police exchange woman's gold chain and ear studs worth Rs 70,000 with pebbles wrapped in paper

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The gang of fake policemen has moved to north Bengaluru after the south division police increased their patrolling and began warning the public with announcements made from address systems installed on patrol vans.

Yesterday, Prema Thangavelu (56), a housewife, was cheated out of jewellery worth Rs 70,000 by the conmen, who stopped her on the RT Nagar main road at 11 am on Tuesday as she was on her way home after making a booking for cooking gas.

Thangavelu said a man aged between 25u00a0 and 30 years approachedu00a0 her on the road and told her he was a policeman. The man was not dressed like a policeman, but Thangavelu said he had the bearing of one.

In her complaint, she saidu00a0 the man asked her to accompany him because his seniors wanted to have a word with her.

She accompanied him to two other men, who were standing at a distance. She said the men told her they were inspectors.

Sleight of hand
They reportedly flashed their 'police' identity cards, and told her they were investigating a murder case.

They then allegedly asked for her purse and advised her to transfer all her jewellery into it.

The task accomplished, Thangavelu proceeded homewards.

A few minutes later, on a suspicion, she opened her purse and found it stuffed with pebbles instead of her gold chain and ear studs.

She said the pebbles were wrapped in a piece of paper.

Following several such incidents in the south division last week, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Krishna Bhatt directed patrolling vehicles to install public announcement systems to warn citizens about criminals posing as fake cops.

The voice coming from the system advises people, especially the elderly, to not hand over their gold or other jewellery to strangers, even if they claim to be policemen.

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