Noida: A group of 10-12 persons was seen stealing iron plates and other iron material from the DMRC godown next to Sector 52 metro station twice on Monday. Local residents said that by the time the police reached the spot, the group had fled the area.Two security guards deployed at a children’s park in the locality first spotted the group, who they alleged had come there to steal iron plates and other material from the godown, in the evening. The guards informed the local RWA members and soon guards from the nearby societies also joined them in trying to stop the thieves.Vijay Pratap Singh, a guard from Ironman Security Service that oversees security in the area, told TOI that the accused had collected 40-45kg of iron in the park when he reached.“A black scooter, without a number plate, was parked there. We tried to stop the youngsters and we also informed the RWA members who then called up the police,” he told TOI. RWA general secretary Sanjeev Kumar said police arrived after around 40 minutes and the thieves had fled by then. Around 9.20pm, the guards saw similar activities again.“We requested the SP (city) to look into the matter and she instructed the Sector 49 SHO to help us. The SHO sent PCR-17 to the park and Ironman company’s quick response team (QRT) also came. But the thieves had already fled taking advantage of the darkness,” Kumar said. Residents said power connection at the park had been disconnected due to non-payment of bills by the horticulture department of the Noida Authority.On February 2, guards and local residents had caught one person for allegedly stealing iron material from the DMRC godown and assaulted security guards. Kumar said six persons were seen stealing and residents had caught one Tilak Yadav. “We took him to VDS market nearby and waited for police. But the youth called some villagers from Hoshiarpur and they took him away. We handed over an e-rickshaw, a bike and nine iron plates to the police,” Kumar said.Residents said despite a written complaint to Sector 49 police and a post on CM’s portal, no FIR has been lodged in the case. SP (City) Sudha Singh said an FIR will be lodged when a written complaint is received.The residents have now decided to step up vigil themselves. “Last time, we had given a picture of an accused to Sector 49 police. Had they wanted, they could have arrested him. But they did not. We have decided to start surveillance with the help of Ironman’s quick response team after 7 pm everyday,” Kumar said.

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