On October 24, a pair of robbers made headlines for looting gold and cash worth Rs 15 million from a house in DHA, Lahore. According to the housemates, the robbers used wireless devices and gadgets that disrupted mobile networks and isolated the family from the outside world.
The robbery was reportedly carried out in just about eight minutes.
The victims claimed that the robbers were very tech-savvy. They had jamming equipment with them. Police say they still need to verify this piece.
Commenting on social media, several people questioned the effectiveness of the signal jamming equipment used in the robbery. They said advanced jammers that can block residential Internet and mobile networks required proximity and compatibility with specific systems.
At the time of filing this story, the police investigation was still ongoing. The investigation is being led by a specialized team including DIG Investigation Zeeshan Asghar; SP research (cantonment) Bushra Jameel; DIG Organized Crime Imran Kishwar; and ASP Shehrbano Naqvi. None of these officials were willing to comment at this stage.
Traditionally, burglary involves muscle power and weapons. However, as residents of posh places increasingly turn to advanced security solutions such as alarm systems, CCTVs and motion sensors, robbers also appear to be using technology to overcome these defense mechanisms. Hence the term ‘smart’ robbery, which involves jammers or other sophisticated gadgets that can alter the evidence at the crime scene and pose additional challenges for the investigating teams.
The above incident followed a failed burglary attempt by five unidentified armed men on October 12 at another location in DHA. The robbers reportedly left behind a signal jamming device after they failed to break down the door, alerting a security guard and a gardener. A formal complaint was filed by the homeowner, Dr. Faisal Hanif, who alleged that the suspects arrived in a white Honda Civic with a fake license plate. Police have registered a case of attempted theft under Section 393 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
As residents in upmarket places increasingly turn to advanced security solutions such as alarm systems, CCTVs and motion sensors, the robbers appear to be using technology to overcome these defense mechanisms.
While Dr Hanif’s family narrowly avoided damage, Mubashar Ahmed’s household was not so lucky. According to Ahmed, a gang of five broke into their house in DHA around midnight when one of the family members had just parked their car in the garage. Seeing that the gate was open, the five men slipped inside, using devices that blocked telephone and internet signals, rendering all communication channels useless.
Ahmed told reporters that an armed man “pointed a gun at my brother as soon as he got out of his car.” Four others jumped in, armed with pistols and rifles. They took the entire family hostage, held them in the kitchen and living room and warned them against any resistance. They fled with gold jewelery worth Rs 8.75 million; a collection of watches worth about Rs 1.3 million; and Rs 3.5 million in cash.
The robbery was carried out with alarming speed and precision, Ahmed said. Before leaving, the robbers took car keys and some other valuables and locked the family in a room.
Describing the appearance of the robbers, Ahmed said they looked as if they were from the northern areas. They were between 30 and 60 years old. One of them coordinated with some accomplices via a walkie-talkie.
According to DIG Kishwar, the robbers fled in a white Honda Civic, the vehicle believed to have been used in three similar incidents. The police chased the gang to no avail. The robbers broke through the barriers and fled onto the highway. Checkpoints were set up along possible escape routes through Islamabad, Sargodha and Faisalabad, but the robbers managed to evade capture.
DIG Kishwar stated that the Organized Crime Unit was actively pursuing the gang, with the Punjab Police coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Dera Ismail Khan, with which the suspects are said to be linked. He was confident that the robbers would be apprehended quickly.
The writer is a media veteran with interests in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship
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