PUNE: Two liquor shops in the city fell victim to break-ins, resulting in the theft of alcohol and cash amounting to Rs. 5.56 lakh. The burglaries took place between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with Viransh Wine Shop at Zed Corner, Keshavnagar-Mundhwa Road, and Vijay Wine Shop in the Viman Nagar area being targeted.
In a bid to fulfill the high demand for alcohol during the festive season, the burglars were strategic in their approach. The owner of Viransh Wine Shop, Suresh Kacharulal Devatwal, lodged a complaint with the Mundhwa police station. According to Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Jore, the criminals skillfully concealed their identities by covering their faces and arrived in a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The thieves forcibly entered the shop by breaking the iron grill, making off with Rs. 41,000 in cash from the counter, as well as five boxes of liquor valued at Rs. 4.19 lakh. The majority of the stolen liquor consisted of rum. Officer Jore revealed that a similar incident occurred in another part of the city during the same time frame, and investigators are exploring possible links between the two cases.
Meanwhile, Abhinesh Vijay Agarwal, the owner of Vijay Wine Shop, reported the theft of Rs. 96,000 from his shop’s cash counter. Senior Inspector Anand Khobare of the Vimantal police station is working on the case and believes there may be a connection between the two incidents. The suspects in both cases are being identified by analyzing the CCTV camera footage.
The Pune District Wine Merchants Association (PDWA) has expressed concerns about the vulnerability of liquor shops to such incidents. Ajay Deshmukh, a committee member of the PDWA, called for improved security measures and suggested the deployment of uniformed home guards, with the associated costs borne by the wine shop owners themselves.
An anonymous state excise officer commented on the surge in liquor sales and consumption, attributing it to the cold weather and festive season. This year’s sales have witnessed a significant increase compared to the previous year, amounting to crores of rupees.
The recent burglaries highlight the pressing need for enhanced security measures to protect liquor shops, which are often seen as soft targets. As investigations continue, authorities are determined to apprehend the culprits and address the concerns raised by the PDWA. With the New Year just around the corner, businesses and law enforcement are on high alert to prevent further incidents and ensure public safety.
