Robbers disguised as cops make off with jackpot in Karachi

Armed robbers managed to loot Rs20 million and 80 tolas of gold from trader’s residence in Orangi Town

KARACHI:

Over a dozen robbers, some donning police uniforms, looted Rs20 million in cash, approximately 80 tolas of gold jewellery, and various valuables from a trader's residence after taking the family hostage at gunpoint in Karachi’s Orangi Town.

“Over a dozen suspects broke into my house on the night between Saturday and Sunday at 2:20am, claiming to be affiliated with the police department,” the victim, Imran, who is a wholesaler of sanitary ware, said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

“They wanted to search my house by falsely claiming that there were weapons hidden at my residence,” he informed.

The armed intruders gathered the family at gunpoint, threatening them to cooperate. Subsequently, they searched each room before managing to escape with more than Rs20 million in cash, gold ornaments weighing 70 to 80 tolas, several mobile phones, laptops, and other valuables.

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The robbers spent nearly two and a half hours in the house, rummaging every corner.

Imran is an authorised dealer for several companies and most retailers in Orangi Town purchase sanitary wares from him.

The money looted belonged to him. He had intended to deposit the money into the companies’ accounts, but due to the weekly holiday, he was unable to do so, leading to the brazen robbery.

Imran further revealed that he and his five brothers, all married, along with their families, live in the same house.

Imran and his five married brothers, along with their families, were targeted by armed robbers who brazenly invaded their shared residence.

The stolen loot included gold ornaments of significant sentimental value, belonging not only to their wives but also to Imran's sister and late mother.

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The stolen gold held special significance as it was intended for Imran's sister, who was soon to be get married and was to gifted to her as part of the dowry.

Imran said that the robbers also took the DVR of the CCTV camera installed in the house. They blindfolded two men from the house, identified as Amir and Shakir, took them along in a police van and dropped them near Baloch Colony Bridge in the Tipu Sultan police station limits.

Imran said that the armed robbers had cordoned off his house. When he did not open the door, one of the robbers entered through an adjacent house, opening the main door for the others.

Imran procured CCTV footage from a neighbour's camera, revealing a double cabin vehicle, a police mobile van, a Mehran car, and two motorcycles.

Despite Imran's timely call to Madadgar 15, police did not arrive on time. Visits to the police station yielded no results as officials claimed the SHO was not present, and action could only be taken upon his return.