Beware, the next time you hop into a private car that offers you a lift for the price of a DTC bus ticket.

The driver and other occupants of the vehicle might just be gunning for your wallet and whatever else you are carrying.

One such gang of thieves, that robbed people while they cruised through the city in private cars, has been arrested by the Southeast district police. The lure was always the price of a public bus fare.

The police are not revealing names of those caught, as they say more arrests are likely. A senior police officer said: “We have recovered a Santro, which was stolen, and several robbed mobile phones which show they have been active in Delhi for sometime and have targeted dozens of people.” “The driver would offer a ride to people waiting for buses. Two to three accomplices posing as commuters would be present in the vehicle. The driver would then take the car to a deserted place and threaten the victim with a weapon.”

Additional Commissioner of Police, Southeast Delhi, Virender Singh Chahal said they would not disclose names. “We have specific information that these men were involved in several cases. Further probe is on. We will be able to divulge more details only by tomorrow,” Singh added. Police sources, meanwhile, said the gang members looked for victims round-the-clock. They often slept in parks too, interrogations have revealed.

Police sources added that two of the assailants own houses in Kalkaji and Sudhar Camp Colony. The other two were from Punjab. “These were the first offences for all members. We suspect they took to crime as they were unemployed,” a senior police officer said.

... contd.