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NEW DELHI (India) — Dharamsala, Shimla, Chennai,
Chandigarh...
No, Wags is not choking on a chicken bone. These are just a few
of the cities that have been recently pillaged by 31-year-old Devender,
alias Bunty, better known as "Super Chor."
"He is the biggest thief in Delhi," said Police
Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma at a press conference in which Delhi
police confirmed that they had caught the notorious "polite"
burglar who has been making Indian headlines since the early 90s.
Indian
Express News reports that in one case a woman woke up to find
Bunty stealing her jewelry. He wished her ‘‘Good morning
ma’am’’ and walked out of the house. In almost 200 alleged
thefts (in the last year alone) totaling an estimated 40 million
rupees ($800,000 USD) the man became known for his polished manners as
well as his ingenious methods.
Bunty was fond of dogs and had a knack of taming even the most
fearsome of guards. If he planned to rob a house which had dogs,
he would take chiclets or bits of chicken with which he would befriend
his four-legged adversaries. "Apart from dog food,"
reports the Express, "he realized that when a dog is taken
for a walk, it gets fascinated by the smell of other dogs. He
then carried the scent of a bitch on an object and left the guard dog
rooted to his spot for an hour while he cleaned out the house."
According to the Express, the dog-loving cat-burglar learned
to control dogs after observing them closely and consulting with
veterinarians.
In some cases, the thief may have been a better friend to the dogs
than the dogs' owners themselves. In one case he befriended an
Alsatian (German Shepherd) in order to rob its master's house in
Bangalore. The man of the house was so infuriated afterward that
he had the dog put to sleep. In another case, Bunty not only
absconded with the household goods, he allegedly took a Spanish
Pomeranian with him.
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 Delhi
police recovered six truckloads of stolen goods following the April 26
arrest of the canine-loving criminal. (Photo: Indian Express)
"Chasing cars" was one of Bunty's addictions, particularly a
taste for the expensive models: Ferrari, Porsche, Opel Astra, Honda City
and Mitsubishi Lancer. Police records show that he is an exceptional
driver and can do a 360-degree spin while clocking 100km/h.
However, a stolen car was his undoing when Delhi police spotted it and
managed to zero in on Bunty and his accomplice Vikram Singh in Mayur Vihar
last Wednesday.
The Super Chor is currently being transferred to Tihar Jail where
authorities are understandably cagey; one other talent he may have
acquired by observing dogs is the ability to escape confinement. No,
he never dug under the fence but instead cooked up some other impressive
feats of flight:
- Chennai: While incarcerated, Bunty breaks a glass and
swallows the pieces. When he starts to bleed, he is rushed to
the hospital where he later manages to escape with ease.
- Chandigarh, 1998: Incarcerated again, Bunty wins the
confidence of his jailors in Sector 36 by eagerly assisting them in
various errands from day to day. One day he borrows a
policeman's scooter to go to the market and never returns.
- Mumbai, 1994: Bunty, a suspect, is asked to come to the
police station to be questioned. He agrees but insists that they
take his car (a Maruti Esteem) so not to leave it behind. Once
inside the car, he secretly removes a fuse and feigns engine
trouble. As the cops get out to give the vehicle a push, Bunty
replaces the fuse and takes off.
Now charged with some 200 offenses, Bunty faces a maximum seven year
prison term after which he will be a free man (if not sooner).
No, Wags, I don't think he'll be breaking into Scoop
headquarters any time soon but if he does, take it easy on the
chicken. You're on a diet, remember?
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