A series of bizarre theft incidents has stunned the internet. Burglars are cooking pakodas before stealing valuables worth lakhs from the houses. The "Pakoda Gang" has targeted more than a dozen houses in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The entire National Capital Region (NCR) is shaken by this series of incidents.

According to India Today's report, the gang searched the fridge for food while stealing from the house, made pakodas in the kitchen and ate them in the house. The Burglars then spent some hours in the house and spat paan in the house.

Pakoda gang
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This unique yet quirky pattern of theft might be loosely inspired by the 90s terror of the "Kacha Baniyan" gang, which was notorious for its robberies across Northern India. The gang would dine at the houses they targeted before robbing and abusing the victims. A similar reference to this gang was made in the second season of Netflix's Delhi Crime web series.

Noida Police stated that around 6-7 theft cases were reported from sector 87's Janta Flat only. Police have affirmed that the search operation is going on and the thieves will be caught soon. Victims have revealed in the FIR that they have lost cash, jewellery, and other valuable items worth lakhs of rupees.

Victim's revelations about pakoda Gang

Shriram Tripathi, one of the victims of the Pakoda gang, was a resident of Noida's Sector 82. The man confirmed that he lost cash, jewellery, and valuable items worth at least Rs 40 lakh when he, along with his family, was out of the station.

The incident happened when Tripathi was in Madhya Pradesh. The thieves reportedly broke the lock of the house to enter inside. While stealing at the house, they made and ate pakodas in the kitchen and fled with the stolen items.

When he returned, Tripathi found some tissue papers the burglars used while enjoying the pakodas. Until, now the gang has stolen from over half a dozen houses in the same area, maintaining the same pattern in every theft.

In a similar incident, the gang broke into the home of Richa Bajpai in Noida's Sector 25 and stole her jewellery valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh. According to an India Today report, the thieves emptied several water bottles from her fridge. They also smoked bidi, ate paan, and spat in the bathroom before fleeing.

Central Noida Additional DCP Hridesh Katheria stated that a team has been formed and directives have been given to the Station Head Officers. He assured that the thieves will be arrested shortly.

Many such gangs have been operating in the Delhi NCR region. Recently, the "Khujli Gang" garnered significant attention; they sprinkle itching powder on their victims to distract them, and while the victims are preoccupied with scratching, the gang steals from them. Another notorious gang was the "Gulaab Gang," where all the members had tattoos of roses on their hands.

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