A brazen theft incident has rocked the security perceptions around banking facilities in Haldwani, where a former serviceman was defrauded of ₹50,000 while attempting a routine bank transaction. The incident, which unfolded at the main branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) located on Nainital Road, highlights a disturbing trend of organized petty theft targeting elderly and vulnerable citizens in public spaces. The victim, identified as Bahadur Singh, a resident of Chandni Chowk Dhurdaura in Manpur West, had visited the bank on September 14 to withdraw his monthly pension. After successfully withdrawing the sum of ₹50,000, he carefully secured the cash in a plastic carry bag, a common practice for carrying loose currency securely.
The crime was executed with alarming precision and audacity. As Singh moved to the ATM kiosk within the same bank premises to update his passbook, two women approached him and stood in close proximity. Singh, noticing their suspicious behavior, reportedly asked one of the women, who was standing unusually close, to move aside. However, the distraction proved to be a calculated move by the suspects. While Singh was occupied with the passbook update process, the women allegedly used the opportunity to slice open the bottom of his plastic bag. By the time Singh finished his transaction and checked the bag, he discovered that the bottom had been cut and the entire cash amount had vanished.
Shocked by the loss, Singh immediately lodged a complaint with the Haldwani Kotwali police. In response, law enforcement authorities swiftly initiated an investigation, focusing on the digital evidence available at the scene. Police officials, including Haldwani Kotwal Vijay Meheta, confirmed that they have seized and are currently analyzing the CCTV footage from both the bank interior and the ATM area. The footage clearly captures the two suspicious women loitering around the veteran during the critical window of time when the theft occurred.
Currently, the police are deploying multiple teams to trace the identities of the suspects based on their physical descriptions from the video evidence. Vigilant efforts are underway, with officers combing through potential hideouts and known areas for petty crime to locate and apprehend the culprits. This incident serves as a stark reminder for citizens to remain vigilant while handling large sums of cash in public, even within secure banking environments, and to report any suspicious behavior to authorities immediately.
