Surat: As inflation rises, it seems even potatoes aren't safe. The rising vegetable prices have apparently driven thieves to brazen new heights, with a vegetable wholesaler in Surat reporting a bizarre theft of 17 sacks of potatoes. The incident occurred in Mota Varachha Saurashtra Township, where an unidentified individual reportedly stole 17 bags of potatoes, each weighing 50 kg, worth a total of Rs 17,000. The Uttaran police station has registered a complaint regarding the incident.
Typically, Surat's law enforcement deals with complaints regarding thefts from homes and offices, but now, they find themselves investigating the theft of vegetables, illustrating the impact of escalating prices. Keshavlal Devjibhai Patel, a vegetable trader operating in Mota Varachha, Saurashtra Township, at A.B.C. Circle, had procured 45 sacks of potatoes on June 30. He left 43 of these sacks outside his shop on July 3, only to discover 17 of them stolen the next day.
The theft was first noticed by the neighboring betel leaf seller, who called Keshavlal the following morning to alert him. Upon investigation, Keshavlal confirmed the loss of 17 sacks of potatoes worth Rs 17,000 and promptly reported the theft to Uttaran police station, who have since initiated an investigation.
The investigation took an interesting turn as the police identified a suspicious rickshaw in the surveillance footage. The video shows an unknown individual loading the potato sacks onto the rickshaw and speeding off. The rickshaw's number plate, discernible in the footage, has provided a crucial lead for the police.
Speaking about the incident, Keshavlal's son, Hiren, said, "My father runs a wholesale vegetable shop here. He had bought 45 sacks of potatoes from Disha and left them outside the shop, only for 17 of them to be stolen. Each sack costs Rs 1,000, so in total, we've lost potatoes worth Rs 17,000. We've filed a complaint with the police, and we hope that the thieves are apprehended soon."
