CCTV Blinded: New Tactic Used by Burglars in Pune’s Pimple Nilakh and Vishal Nagar, Residents Demand Police Post
CCTV Blinded: New Tactic Used by Burglars in Pune’s Pimple Nilakh and Vishal Nagar, Residents Demand Police Post
Pune’s Pimple Nilakh and Vishal Nagar localities have witnessed a concerning rise in criminal activity, with residents living under a growing sense of fear. Burglars have adopted a disturbing new method to target homes—disabling security cameras using a special spray before executing thefts in the dark hours of the night. This troubling development has left citizens anxious and demanding better police presence.
Over the past several days, locals have reported a sharp spike in crimes such as burglaries, chain-snatching, and house break-ins. What’s especially alarming is the confidence with which the culprits operate—calmly navigating through societies without any fear of being caught, as seen in multiple CCTV footages shared by residents.
Instead of targeting properties randomly, these offenders reportedly conduct daytime surveillance. Locals have observed unfamiliar individuals loitering around the area during daylight hours. These people appear to be scouting houses, identifying which ones might be vacant or lack strong security. Once marked, the criminals return at night to carry out the robbery.
To evade identification, they spray a chemical on CCTV camera lenses, temporarily distorting the footage. This blurs out their activity for approximately 30 minutes—more than enough time to enter, loot, and leave without a trace. Residents also claim these thieves are using advanced, silent techniques to break open doors without alerting neighbours or security.
New Trick In Pune: Burglars Spray CCTV Cameras, Hit Homes in Pimple Nilakh & Vishal Nagar – VIDEOS pic.twitter.com/Mgyeyu6EZw
— Maharashtra News (@MahaNews25) October 1, 2025
According to Free Press Journal, residents have shared that such incidents have become frequent in recent months, with attempted burglaries now happening nearly every day in some parts of these neighbourhoods.
One woman from Pimple Nilakh, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her experience with FPJ. She explained, “About two weeks ago, someone broke into my flat and stole valuables. I wasn’t home as I’ve been in Mumbai lately, but they somehow knew the house was empty. They entered the society by scaling the compound wall and targeted my flat specifically.” She added that her neighbour’s home was also hit and that multiple similar incidents have occurred around them recently. “It feels like a group is operating from nearby and deliberately focusing on our area,” she said.
Concerns are growing louder among community members due to the lack of a local police post. Vishal Nagar resident and social activist Anil Gawade emphasized the long-standing demand, stating, “Pimple Nilakh needs a dedicated police post. We’ve been asking for it for over five years, and even though it was reportedly approved last year, there’s still no sign of it.”
Gawade further explained that the area sits between the jurisdictions of Wakad and Sangvi Police Stations, creating confusion and delays. “Both stations are quite far, so police response time is slow—at least 20 minutes. There’s also a lack of clarity about which police station is responsible,” he noted.
Pimple Nilakh’s location on the edge of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate and Pune Police Commissionerate further complicates regular patrolling, residents say.
According to Free Press Journal, Sangvi Police Station’s Crime Inspector, Amol Nandekar, responded to these rising concerns by stating that they have received a few complaints and are currently investigating. He clarified, “We haven’t found any organized gang so far. People don’t need to be alarmed. Our investigation is progressing.”
He acknowledged the use of spray to block CCTV recordings but reassured, “Some cameras still manage to capture movements, and we’re using those to identify the suspects. Police also have other tools for tracking individuals.”
He encouraged citizens to remain calm and take proactive steps. “Neighbours should support each other. Security guards must stay alert. If someone is going out of town, informing trusted neighbours can make a big difference. Community awareness can help bring down crime,” he advised.
