May 7: The Crime Branch has busted a gang of house-breakers who specialised in breaking into houses in broad daylight and escaping with valuables in less than 10 minutes.

The gang committed 37 burglaries in various parts of the city. They could force open doors in about a minute and escape in another nine with the booty - most of the time comprising jewellery, silverware, cash and electronic items. Explaining the gang's modus operandi, crime branch senior inspector, Gopal Tejale, told Express Newsline the gang looked out for apartments with closed windows. This was an indication that there was nobody in the house.

Each of the gang member specialised in one or the other task. While Akhtar Hussain Rafiq Khan (23) did all the planning, Krishna Gopal Nair (25) specialised in breaking doors. Afzal Haji Khan, an ace driver, drove the getaway vehicle. ``Once the house was marked, Nair broke open the door latch or the hinges with a screw-driver in less than a minute. The cupboard doors and safe locks too were opened by him. After this was done, other members collected all the valuables and escaped,'' said Tejale.

Gang members told police that if Nair and others did not return in 10 minutes, other waiting in the getaway vehicle fled presuming something had gone wrong. ``Timing was important...10 minutes are never enough for neighbours to react. Hence it was necessary to finish the job within the shortest possible time,'' a gang member told the police. According to the police, the gang committed its first housebreak in 1995. Thereafter, they went on a house-breaking spree at Mahim, Dadar, Vile Parle, V P Road, Chembur and Ghatkopar.

The money earned after selling the loot was spent on liquor and women. The gang committed the next crime only after they ran out of funds, the police added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.