News
Bogus CID officers prey on middle-aged men
View(s):By Damith Wickremasekera
A 62-year-old man was on his way home after doing his marketing at the weekly pola when three men approached him, identified themselves as CID officers and told him that he was wanted for questioning in connection with drug peddling.
The man, S.D. Nanayakkara from Arangala in Malabe, was forced into a threewheeler and once he was inside the bogus CID officers told him to hand over his ring, watch and wallet. He was dropped off at Wellampitiya and the three men told him to remain there until they returned with another suspect.
Of course they never came back and Mr. Nanayaakkara made his way home and lodged a complaint with the Thalangama Police. He was not the only victim. In the past four months, the eight-member gang, which operated in groups of two or three, has preyed on 26 middle-aged men.
Their modus operandi was to approach affluent looking middle-aged men when they were alone, identify themselves as CID officers and tell the unsuspecting victims they needed to question them in connection with a drug-related offence. They would then tell the men to get into the car or the three-wheeler which they had hired and pretend they were going to the nearest police station.
On the way they would pretend they were talking on the phone to their police superior. After that, they would tell the victim to hand over their watches, jewellery, phones and wallets and assure him that the items would be handed back after the questioning was over. Once this was done, the men would stop the vehicle and tell the victim to get off before they make a getaway.
As soon as Mr. Nanayakkkara made the complaint, Inspector Upul Perera, Officer-in-Charge of the Thalangama Police, knew who the culprits were. It did not take much trouble or time to arrest them because, according to the OIC, the same gang was arrested for committing the same crime last year. They were released on bail four months ago yet have resumed their criminal activities.
Police have recovered items valued at more than one million rupees and request those who have been so cheated to call over at the Thalangama police station and claim their swindled items.
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