4 LPG Cylinders Stolen In 2 Incidents Within A Month In Navi Mumbai’s Agroli, Delivery Workers Demand CCTV Audit

Navi Mumbai witnessed the theft of four LPG cylinders in two incidents within a three-week period in Agroli village, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of the city's CCTV surveillance system. The first theft occurred on October 9 between 12:30 pm and 1 pm, while the second took place on October 30 between 4:55 pm and 5 pm, both incidents near the B T Randive Library.

The financial losses incurred by delivery personnel, who are responsible for missing cylinders, have been significant, with each cylinder estimated to cause a loss of Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. Madan Punekar, a 21-year veteran in LPG distribution, expressed his disbelief, stating that such incidents were uncommon during his career. Delivery personnel and residents have raised doubts about the functionality of CCTV cameras installed by NMMC, questioning whether the footage would aid in identifying the culprits.

Vasant Pawar, a local resident, urged the civic administration to inspect the entire CCTV network in Agroli to ensure all cameras are operational and regularly monitored. Ananda Pandhare, a delivery personnel, highlighted the impracticality of guarding vehicles during deliveries, calling for increased police patrolling and a thorough audit of CCTV footage to determine if the incidents are connected.

The repeated thefts have underscored the vulnerability of gas delivery vehicles and the necessity for enhanced security measures to mitigate financial losses for delivery workers.