Ranchi LPG Cylinder Thefts Rise Amidst West Asia Conflict Fueling Black Market

Ranchi: LPG supply disruption caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict seems to have brought a change in the choice of valuables being targeted by burglars in the city. Instead of heading to almirahs and lockers to loot cash and jewellery, they are now making off with LPG cylinders, which have apparently become a luxury item.While a domestic LPG cylinder costs Rs 970.50 in the market, it is being sold for around Rs 2,000- Rs 3,000 in the black market. A commercial cylinder costs Rs 2,258, while in the black market, its price is around Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000.In the past few days, there were at least three such incidents where burglars barged into houses and took LPG cylinders, leaving other valuables untouched, police said.On Saturday, two burglars barged into the residence of Krishnakant Chaudhary at around 11 am and allegedly stole two cylinders.

Ram Narayan Singh, officer in-charge of Namkum police station, said that the entire operation was captured on CCTV cameras installed at Chaudhary’s home.“While one of the two bike-borne miscreants was waiting outside, the other went inside and grabbed a filled cylinder and an empty one and fled the scene. No family member was at home when the theft took place. An FIR has been registered by the family and we are trying to identify the miscreants through CCTV footage,” Singh said.

“They did not touch any other items except the cylinders,” he added.A similar incident was reported in Chutia area on Saturday. Burglars barged into Prem Chaudhury’s residence and stole a cylinder. “I was at home all day. But I did not realise someone entered the storeroom and fled with the cylinder. I found out that the cylinder was missing on Sunday. I was astonished that they did not steal jewellery or cash,” he told TOI.Prem said he will file a police complaint after discussing with his LPG distributor.A man, identified as Ali Riyan, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly barging into a home in Argora area and stealing an LPG cylinder.SP (city) Paras Rana, said, “We have recovered an LPG cylinder from his possession and seized a van that was used to transport stolen cylinders. The accused was involved in similar incidents in the past as well. He has been sent to jail.”