Laptop theft racket busted, couple arrested from Baguiati

Kolkata: The Bidhannagar City Police busted a racket associated with stealing of laptops and arrested a couple in this connection from Baguiati.

The sleuths have already recovered 131 stolen laptops.

The duo used to pose as paint workers and take entry into households for making a recce. The prime target of the arrested persons were the paying guests residing in Dum Dum, Lake Town and Bidhannagar area.

The arrested couple, Soumen Barman and his wife Sangita are the residents of Jagatpur in Baguiati.

Soumen was arrested by the police on November 19 and after interrogation his wife was nabbed on Thursday night.

The duo used to sell the stolen articles against a payment that ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. The racket was operating for nearly two years and a number of complaints in this regard was lodged at Baguiati police station area in the last few months that led the sleuths to pull up their socks and activate their

source network. The recovery of the laptops were made after they were informed of some shops in the city where the duo had sold off the articles.

"They used wet towels and some innovative technique to break locks making almost no noise. They stole only laptops with a specific plan," said Abharu Rabindranath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (detective department) of Bidhannagar City Police.

Soumen informed that they did not steal cell phones because of the risk of getting traced easily by tracking tower location and IMEI number.

Besides, selling of laptops brought them good money which was not possible after disposing of mobile phones. "Our investigation has revealed the involvement of more people in this racket. We are trying to nab them," a senior official of the detective

department said.