Rise in servant theft cases involving Nepali gangs in Hyderabad:

While most of the traditional crimes declined in the year 2021, the ‘servant theft cases’ involving Nepali gangs increased in the tri-commissionerates of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda.

At least ten gangs of Nepali nationals involved in stealing from the house of their employers were arrested in Hyderabad in 2021. The property stolen was valued between a few lakhs to up to a crore rupees.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes) Hyderabad, Shikha Goel said the gang members get employed as helpers, cooks, security guards and drivers with rich families. “After gaining the trust of the employer, the gang commits theft at the house when the owners are away and escape with valuables. In certain instances, they drugged the families before robbing ornaments and cash from them,” she said.

The police during the investigation into recent cases found the kingpins of the gang to be based in New



Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) and were in touch with the other members based in various States through social media platforms.

“After a particular house is identified, a member of the gang befriends those working there and gets one of them appointed in the house. On getting an opportunity, the other members reach the city and commit the offences,” Shikha Goel, explained.

In the last one year, cases involving such gangs were reported in Nacharam, Abid Road, Kushaiguda, Narsingi, Raidurgam and Malakpet. “There is a significant rise in the cases in the year 2021 as compared to previous years. So it is advisable that employers are alert before appointing someone at their house,” she advised.

The police have asked people to use the HawkEye application to upload and verify credentials of domestic helps and drivers before employing them. Identify proof that should be collected by employers.