Pune city is grappling with an alarming surge in sandalwood thefts, with multiple incidents reported across prominent areas in recent weeks.
In a string of daring burglaries, thieves have targeted both residential properties and institutional premises, making off with valuable sandalwood trees.
In the latest incident, sandalwood thieves broke into the bungalow of an army officer in the Ghorpadi area late Thursday (September 19) night. The bungalow, located on Nehru Road, was targeted around midnight when thieves sneaked into the compound and felled a mature sandalwood tree.
The theft was discovered by the officer the following morning, prompting a complaint at the Wanawadi police station. Assistant Police Inspector Sangolkar has taken charge of the investigation but no arrests have been made so far.
This theft follows another incident in Parvati's Mitramandal Colony, where thieves cut down and stole a sandalwood tree from a private bungalow. The house owner lodged a complaint at the Parvati police station,
with constable Jagtap leading the investigation. These back-to-back incidents have left residents anxious, as sandalwood trees continue to vanish from private properties.
Thefts of sandalwood have been escalating, with several high-profile locations becoming targets. Four days ago, thieves stole a sandalwood tree from the premises of the prestigious Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) at Savitribai Phule Pune University. A month earlier, the same premises witnessed the theft of five sandalwood trees.
Local authorities are facing growing pressure as thieves continue to strike government offices, educational institutions, and private homes alike. One incident on Prabhat Road involved a daring robbery where a female lawyer was threatened with a sharp weapon before the thieves made off with a sandalwood tree from her bungalow's premises.
Despite the repeated incidents, police have so far been unable to apprehend the culprits. Officials acknowledge the organized nature of the crime, with a specialized gang believed to be behind the spree of sandalwood thefts.
