When Bengaluru sleeps, thieves strike: Milk packet thefts become a surprising new crime trend

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Bengaluru are on the rise as incidents of stolen milk packets have surfaced, especially in the early hours. The thefts, which have garnered attention on social media, are now raising concerns among milk vendors, consumers, and local authorities, a TOI report stated.

Incidents of Theft Spark Widespread Concern

Two notable incidents of milk theft were reported this week. The first incident occurred near Konanakunte Metro station on Tuesday morning. A group of thieves on a scooter stole a crate of milk from a roadside booth operated by vendor Dileep. The crate, left by a KMF dairy vehicle, was taken before Dileep arrived to set up his stall. The theft, involving approximately 15 to 20 liters of milk worth around Rs 1,000, was caught on CCTV, but the vehicle's registration number was unclear.

Dileep reported the incident to the police helpline, and a Hoysala vehicle responded, searching for the suspects, but to no avail. Despite being advised by Subramanyapura police to file a formal complaint, Dileep has yet to do so. «If the victim files a complaint, we will register a case of theft,» a senior officer told TOI.

The second theft occurred in Indiranagar on Monday, where two women were captured on CCTV stealing milk packets from the bags hanging on residents' gates. This incident also took place in the early morning hours. Indiranagar police, although aware of the theft through social media posts, have not received a formal complaint.

Concerns Growing Amid Rising Milk Prices

The rising price of milk in Bengaluru has