Walkie-talkies, not cellphones: How Nashik gang evaded Pune police during Junnar burglaries

Police investigations in Pune uncovered that the gang responsible for a string of burglaries in the Junnar area relied on handheld walkie‑talkies to coordinate their movements. Unlike cell phones, these devices do not generate location data that can be traced by cellular towers, making it harder for law enforcement to map the suspects' routes. The criminals would meet at pre‑arranged points, exchange brief instructions and then disperse, limiting the chance that any single device could be intercepted by surveillance tools.

The series of break‑ins targeted homes and small businesses that stored cash, jewelry and electronic equipment. Victims reported that the thieves entered during early morning hours, often disabling alarm systems before proceeding to the safe rooms. Because the gang avoided using mobile networks, investigators could not rely on call logs or GPS data to build a timeline of events. Instead, they turned to traditional police work, interviewing neighbors, reviewing CCTV footage from nearby streets and tracing the physical footprints left at each crime scene.

Authorities have now increased patrols in the Junnar region and are urging residents to adopt basic security measures such as reinforced doors, motion‑activated lights and the use of lockable safes. The police also plan to conduct random checks on local markets that sell communication equipment, hoping to locate the walkie‑talkies that may have been purchased illegally. The case highlights how low‑tech tools can still pose significant challenges to modern policing when used deliberately to evade digital tracking.