Thu Jan 23 21:22:04 IST 2025: ## Hyderabad Police Bust Gang Behind ₹6 Lakh Road Roller Theft Ring
**Hyderabad, January 23, 2025** – Hyderabad police have arrested four men and are searching for a fifth in connection with the theft of a 9,000-kilogram road roller from the Jeedimetla Industrial Park. The theft, which occurred on January 20th, uncovered a sophisticated operation where the stolen road roller was dismantled and its steel used to create Thermo Mechanical Treatment (TMT) bars, subsequently sold in Maharashtra for approximately ₹6 lakh.
The arrested individuals include Afroz Ahmed Patel (24), a gas cutter; Mohammed Ibrahim (31), a scrap dealer; Shaik Anwar (35), a truck driver and owner; and Balla Ram Satyanarayana (47), a crane owner. Syed Mustafa remains at large. Police recovered the stolen road roller (valued at ₹4.5 lakh), along with the cranes and goods carrier vehicle used in the heist (valued at ₹30 lakh).
The investigation, triggered by a complaint from a driver who discovered the missing roller, involved analyzing footage from over 64 CCTV cameras. Police revealed that the gang, led by Ibrahim, had been planning the theft for at least two months, targeting heavy vehicles for their high-quality steel content. The TMT bars produced from the stolen roller were highly sought after in Jalna, Maharashtra.
Inspector G. Mallesh explained that the gang successfully disguised their activities, posing as owners performing repairs to avoid suspicion. The investigation also revealed that a similar theft had occurred nearby a week earlier, also orchestrated by the same gang. The arrested individuals have been produced in court, and the police are continuing their investigation to identify any further accomplices. The motive, according to police, was financial difficulty among the gang members.
First Piper 