JAIPUR: An 18-wheel trailer used as a mobile hideout helped a gang of burglars move from village to village across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, until a 650-km pursuit ended with the arrest of five alleged gang members in Bhilwara’s Jahazpur, police said Sunday.The police team intercepted the trailer in Jahazpur on Aug 14. The accused were identified as Shaitan Kanjar (22) of Meghnivas in Begun, Chittorgarh; Rajendra Kanjar (26) of Dudhitlai; Raju Kanjar (42) of Vijaypur; Ratanlal Kanjar (22) of Dhadliya Ka Kheda; and Nanu Kanjar (22) of Dudhitlai, all in Chittorgarh district.Nagaur police said the gang was allegedly involved in more than 100 burglaries over the past five years and had stolen jewellery and cash worth more than Rs 10 crore. Police have linked 12 major burglaries worth around Rs 2 crore to the gang in Nagaur alone.Additional SP Nagaur Asharam Chaudhary said the gang had targeted houses in Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Phalodi, Didwana-Kuchaman, Bikaner and Jaipur over the past two years, besides allegedly operating in parts of Madhya Pradesh.The gang came under the police scanner after a Rs 8.3 lakh burglary in Birloka on Aug 6.Police said the gang travelled in the trailer, parked it outside settlements and carried out burglaries at night. The five members allegedly had specific roles, with one staying inside the trailer, another keeping watch and three breaking locks, windows or walls to enter houses.According to police, the trailer was made to resemble a vehicle belonging to a local community, with names of local deities painted on it. The gang members allegedly carried no mobile phones while committing burglaries to avoid leaving a digital trail.Investigators said the accused also avoided travelling directly between the trailer and targeted houses. After a burglary, they allegedly stole motorcycles parked along their route, rode them for around 10 km and abandoned them before returning to the trailer.Police said the gang operated only at night and avoided temples and daytime thefts.Police tracked the trailer after it left Chittorgarh. On the night of Aug 13, the suspects allegedly spotted police near Rol and fled towards Jaipur, triggering a pursuit that covered around 650 km.Police said the accused have been booked under provisions relating to organised crime. Police constable Bhajanlal was credited with playing a key role in tracing the gang.
