The Gurgaon police’s anti-laptop robbery squad is facing an unusual hurdle the English language. The one-of-a-kind team was formed to probe the rising number of laptop thefts 125 in 2008.

The policemen, chasing two gangs of laptop-robbers, had to return empty handed from Tamil Nadu and Kerala last month because they could not communicate with the local cops.

“We decided to form a squad with a mix of experienced as well as young but tech-savvy policemen who can speak English,” said DCP (Crime) Anil Dhawan. The failure to commu nicate with local policemen in Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram last month undid months of work by cyber-crime experts of the squad who had put the unique International Mobile Equipment Identification numbers of the stolen laptops under observation to track down the gangs.

Most of the laptops were stolen by breaking windowpanes of the cars parked in malls, markets and office complexes in posh localities such as DLF City Sushant, Lok and MG Road.

Dhawan, however, claimed about 25 per cent of the laptop theft cases are bogus. He said Gurgaon residents who lose laptops in Delhi file complaints in Gurgaon, while some file false complaints to claim insurance.

Article taken from HT epaper, written by Sanjeev K. Ahuja.