Dealers' body says cops ignoring pump owners' demand for arms licence even as Thergaon pump becomes latest victim of thieves, who make away with Rs 18.33 L

Taking note of rising cases of thefts and robberies at petrol pumps, at least 350 petrol pump owners in the district have asked the police for arms licences. However, they say their demand has fallen on deaf years.

Ali Daruwala, president of Western India Petrol Dealers Association, said: "For long, we have been demanding arm licenses for our 350 members, but our demand has been over looked by the police. Considering the rising price of petrol, pumps will have more cash and given that dealers work on limited margin, very few can afford armed security guards."

Yesterday, Rs 18.33 lakh was stolen from a petrol pump in Thergaon. The theft came to light only in the morning when employees at Pandit Automotive petrol pump found the office in shambles. The pump is owned by Vilas Prabhakar Gavankar.

The police said when the petrol pump was opened last morning by an employee, he found the three cabins broken into, two cupboards damaged and cash stolen. Pump owner Gavankar then informed the police and fingerprint experts and dog squad were summoned to the spot.

"We generally deposit our cash in the strong room of our sister concern Tata Automotive every day. But on the occasion of Id-E-Milad there was a public holiday and earnings from two days were kept in the treasury of the petrol pump. We realised that cash was stolen only in the morning," Gavankar said. "We have proper security in place. We have even employed armed guards for the morning shift."

Asked why armed guards were not present at night, he said: "The petrol pump closes early in the night."

Gavankar said he had planned to install CCTV in two or three days. "Before it could happen, the robbery took place. We suspect someone who knew there was cash in the office was behind the theft."

Even the police suspect it was the work of someone inside the petrol pump.

"Considering that the thief first took the keys and then opened the treasury where the cash was kept, indicates the person knew the workings of the petrol pump," Police Inspector Nandakishor Bhosale-Patil said.

"We are considering all the angles and we are questioning the employees and guards at the pump. We are also checking criminals who have a history of breaking into houses."

About the demand for arm licences, Assistant Commissioner of Police Prabhakar Patil said: "We can not give arm licences to all, just because they are members of the Petrol Dealers' Association. Each application for licence is treated on its merit. Also, we came to know that there were four guards and one supervisor at the pump during the night. If they had done their job, the theft would not have occurred. Besides, the person who owns an arm should be present at the pump all the time. Instead, they should appoint alert armed guards and install secuity gadgets."