As India grapples with an ongoing LPG supply crisis, reports of cooking gas cylinder thefts have emerged from Bengaluru.
According to Deccan HeraldAt least two separate cases of bottle theft from residential areas have been confirmed in the Karnataka capital.
A video posted by the Press Trust of India on X (formerly Twitter) provides a glimpse into one of these crimes. The footage reveals a man arriving on a motorbike in a residential street and then fleeing with the cylinder hidden in a bag. This particular theft took place in Bengaluru’s Kalyan Nagar district.
A second incident was documented in Channapatna where CCTV cameras captured two suspects on a scooter detaining LPG cylinder which were left unattended outside the residence. The Deccan Herald noted that law enforcement officials have yet to make any arrests in these cases, although active investigations are still ongoing.
In light of these developments, local authorities have urged Bengaluru residents to store their LPG cylinders safely at their homes. Citizens are also encouraged to report any suspicious behavior in their communities to the police. Notably, similar reports of cylinder thefts are emerging in various other regions across India as the shortage continues.
Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district arrested seven people after the confrontation, from which more than 500 people were rounded up. LPG cylinders stolen during Holi holidays, reported PTI on Wednesday.
Acting on a confidential tip-off, law enforcement agencies nabbed the suspects — identified as Javed, Aamir, Ritik, Sumit, Shubhankar, Abhishek and Surendra — near a gas depot on Gwalior Road early Wednesday morning.
According to BGTS Superintendent of Police Murthy, all the accused are local residents of Jhansi.
In addition to the physical stock, the police secured ₹11.10 lakh in cash and more ₹83,820, which officials believe were proceeds from the illegal sale of stolen fuel.
The heist began on March 2 when truck driver Rajkumar parked a transport vehicle loaded with 524 filled LPG cylinders outside the Bharat Petroleum depot in Sipri Bazar before heading home for the festivities. Upon his return on March 6, the vehicle disappeared, prompting owner Neeraj Agrawal to file an official police complaint.
The truck was subsequently discovered abandoned in the Baragaon area with its GPS tracking system deliberately damaged.
Investigating officers have formed several specialized teams to trace the missing cargo.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that Javed and Ritik – both ex-drivers formerly employed at a gas company – were masterminding the theft to make a quick profit. The group now faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act and the Motor Vehicles Act. All the suspects were taken into judicial custody.
