Women can now feel safer in the posh localities of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton as police claim to have busted a three-member gang involved in the looting of gold, jewellery, cash and other valuables.
The trio targeted women when they were walking to their workplace or for shopping, revealed South District Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Ejaz Ahmad Rai while speaking during a press conference alongside SSP Investigation Dr Farrukh Raza.
They said that law enforcers have recovered 20 tolas of gold, cash, and mobile phones snatched during different incidents. Police also seized pistols from the suspects.The arrested suspects included the head of the gang, named Jibran Yaseen, and two accomplices Waqas Abdul Habib and Anis Muhammad Yusuf.SSP Rai said the gang had been active for the last two years. He claimed that the criminals had spread much fear in the mentioned areas due to women being deprived of jewellery, purses and cell phones.
He explained that the accused first conducted a reconnaissance of office blocks and shopping areas, all while sipping tea at kiosks and frequenting out at cigarette cabins. The suspects would observe women coming and going and then select the target wearing gold chain and accessories.Once finalised, the gang would attack the woman. After swiftly holding her hostage at gunpoint, they would snatch jewellery, valuables and flee.
SSP Raza said the gang committed at least three to four robberies in a week and the arrested accused have confessed to more than 100 robberies during preliminary investigation. The arrested suspects are involved in 10 robberies in DHA and Clifton this year alone. CCTV footage of the incident has also been obtained.
Police said that Gibran, the ringleader of the arrested group, lived in South Africa and there was the mark of a gunshot wound on his arm. Reportedly, the injury had been inflicted by political opponents.
