School computer thieves in police net
AHMEDABAD: Sarkhej local crime branch (LCB) officials recovered 10 computers stolen from six different primary schools in and around Bhayla village from five people. The gang stole the electronic goods worth Rs 3 lakh in just two -and-a-half months.
JP Raol, inspector of LCB, told TOI that the gang was being led by Hasmukh Devipujak, 32, who had briefly worked with private firms and knew how the machines work and their worth. "At first, we were surprised to know that the gang of Devipujaks was behind the thefts as barring Hasmukh, none had any idea how computers functioned. However, Rajesh, Pravin, Rajni and Natu Devipujak, who are aged between 22 and 27, supported Hasmukh to carry out the thefts," he said.
Raol said as primary schools were located in the villages and run by government, they did not have any watchman to look after the goods.
"The group would strike after midnight and break the lock with crowbar. They would then put the monitor, CPU, mouse and keyboard in a rucksack after disassembling the machine and leave the place. They struck at eight schools and decamped with electronic goods from six of them," he said.
LCB officials added that in a raid on Hasmukh's residence in Bhayla, they were able to find almost all the components intact. "They had not sold the systems as they were waiting for a big buyer who can take the entire stock at one go. They were searching for such a buyer. Apart from Hasmukh, who has cleared class XII exam, none have crossed class V. The computers are in a good condition. They can be handed back to the authorities after court clears the goods and order their return to original owners," said an LCB police official.
According to officials, the computers were allocated to the schools over a period of one-and-a-half years under state government's computer education scheme where students were required to study computer as a subject.
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