The Tribune, Jamuary 28, 2004

Burglars use showroom van to decamp with safe

Faridabad: About 10 to 12 armed persons stormed into the office of a leading Maruti automobile dealer on the main Mathura road here early this morning and decamped with a safe containing about Rs 20 lakh. The dacoits decamped used a Maruti Versa van kept in the showroom of the company for getting away. The incident took place around 4 AM this morning, when the robbers, who came in an unidentified vehicle, knocked at the doors of the showroom located near Sector-16. They tied up the three watchmen on duty, before launching a search for the cash. It is reported that the culprits, after failing to break open the lock of some almirahs and the safe, decided to take the safe containing the cash with them. They also forced the watchmen to hand over the keys of a new and unsold Maruti Versa van and use it to ferry the safe to their hideout. While the exact amount of money looted is not known, it is reported that it could be around Rs 20 lakh as the company had not deposited the cash proceeds for the past two days. A case has been registered but no arrest has been made so far. TNS