Lucknow: The arrest of six members of a thieves’ gang in Gomtinagar has revealed the extensive range of valuables stolen from residential properties in Sahara City, exposing a well-planned burglary operation targeting high-value household items.According to police, accused Faiyaz alias Saif, Noor Mohammad alias Ajju, Aman Sahni, Danish, Shahid and Vikram hail from various districts, including Bahraich, Hardoi and Lucknow. The police said the gang was operating for several years under the guise of scrap dealers, using their movement across areas to conduct reconnaissance before targeting houses. They systematically identified houses on the Sahara City premises and broke in by scaling boundary walls mostly during night hours. Once inside, they selectively targeted items that could be easily transported and sold in the market.Among the stolen property were LED televisions, geysers, DSLR cameras and other electronic gadgets, indicating that the gang prioritised high-value electronics. They also looted gold and silver jewellery, including chains, earrings, cuff buttons and other ornaments, along with expensive branded wristwatches from multiple international labels.In addition, the gang stole silver utensils, decorative items such as sindoor containers, and metal articles including copper and brass, which were later sold under the guise of scrap trading. Police said the accused often used their scrap-dealer cover to conduct reconnaissance and identify vulnerable homes. They also took away cash, mobile phones, table clocks, mini cameras and even gaming coins, indicating an opportunistic approach to theft.The accused confessed that the stolen goods were transported using a pickup vehicle and later sold in local markets, with proceeds distributed among members. The repeated success of these operations emboldened the gang, allowing them to continue targeting multiple houses over time.
