Jharkhand police have busted an interstate gang that used Google Maps to identify targets. As per media sources, these burglars carried out a series of hit-and-run break-ins across Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.
While burglars usually recce the neighbourhood before striking, this gang is accused of using satellite images and Street View to shortlist targets. The thieves used mobile phones to virtually investigate large houses with weak boundary walls, isolated entry points, and easy escape routes. This allowed them to plan robberies remotely without attracting any suspicion.
The arrested men have been identified as Vikas Kumar, 27, Raju Kumar, 49, and Mahammad Irfan, 26, hailing from Patna. During the raid, police recovered a firearm, live ammunition, stolen gold jewellery, and burglary tools.
Police caught the gang’s trail after a burglary was reported in Jamshedpur on September 19. A special investigation team took charge to crack the case. The team used CCTV and mobile phone tracking to locate the gang’s hideout in Patna.
According to East Singbhum SSP Piyush Pandey, the gang was frequently on the move. Entering a state, scouting targets electronically, committing burglary, and immediately relocating to West Bengal or Bihar was their common thieving pattern. The police believe that the gang was able to target at least six residences in the past couple of months.
“They kept moving from one city to another in the three adjoining states,” SSP Pandey explained. “The use of Google Maps meant they didn't need local accomplices to identify affluent areas or plan their routes.”
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The case shows how crime and policing have evolved through the integration of digital tools that have become a part of our everyday lives.
According to investigators, the accused used Google Maps to identify entry and exit points without real visits. The Jharkhand police also had to improvise and depend on technical surveillance and interstate coordination to arrest the thieves.
This unique case emphasizes that relying on physical security alone is not enough and must be accompanied by digital awareness.