Kolkata: Five regulars nabbed after 3rd break-in at liquor shop

KOLKATA: A group of five regular customers of a liquor shop on Armenian Street were caught red-handed on Saturday morning after they broke into the closed establishment. Cops seized 26 bottles of branded

alcohol

from the group. However, this was the third time they had broken into the shop to drink to their fill and make off with bottles.


According to cops, neighbours Md Imran, 20, Md Sheru, 22, Rabiul Islam, 32, Md Wasim, 28, and Md Saheb, 19, visited the shop every night after work. When the lockdown was announced, they had called the proprieter to ask if he had stock and even ordered some liquor for when the restrictions would be lifted. The friends from the Kalabagan slum off CR Avenue hatched the break-in plan together. “On nights that they planned the heists, they left their homes separately. A couple of them even carried prescriptions to show cops at the nakas. They waited for night to descend before breaking in. There was promoting work going on in the next building that shares a wall with the shop. This helped them,” said an officer. On Saturday, one of them still had an axe and range in his hand when cops nabbed them.

Police said it was only last week when the owner found out about the theft and informed police. “We knew they would return. They walked into our trap,” said an officer from the Burrabazar police station.

Cops said they are questioning the accused to ascertain if they were selling the stolen alcohol for a premium. “There is a possibility they were making exceptional profit through this illegal venture,” said a source.