Tapas Dey, Rajesh Shaw, Animesh Sardar and Dipankar Maity, residents of Dakshindari Rail colony, were daily wage earners during the day and burglars by night.

“The gang was involved in at least five cases in Lake Town, Belgachia and Paikpara. Dipankar Maity was a bus conductor and all the others were labourers. All are between 22-25 years of age,” said ASP Bidhannagar Ashok Biswas. Tapas Dey was the kingpin of the gang.

For the past few days, the four went on a shopping spree and had purchased several expensive items, including home theatres and LCD televisions.

This had alarmed the police informers in the area. The CID was informed as well as the Detective Department and a police team shadowed the gang for 15 days.

The gang would apparently meet in an area and then pick a house with open exhaust vents. Three of them would stand guard outside while Tapas would slip in through the narrow vents.