LAPTOPS, CELL PHONES STOLEN DURING IITB HALF MARATHON

MUMBAI: At least six people have lodged a complaint with the Powai police on Sunday after unknown persons broke into their vehicles parked outside the Iit-bombay campus in Powai and stole several laptops and cell phones while a half-marathon that happened on Sunday morning.

Navin Reddy, deputy commissioner of police for Zone 10, confirmed the development.

He said the local police have registered a case of theft and are investigating the matter further.

Around 2,600 people participated in IIT-B half marathon, with some parking their vehicles outside the venue.

Police said five or six people found their belongings missing and their car’s glasses broken when they returned to their vehicles. They said participants blamed the organisers for not providing adequate safety arrangements to avert such incidents.

Police also said the organisers had not them of the marathon and hence there was no security bandobast provided accordingly.

DCP Reddy said no prior permission was taken from local police by the organisers.

One organiser said participants were requested not to bring their vehicles to the venue citing lack of parking space. “The theft took place outside the campus; hence the organisers are not responsible for any incident that occurs outside,” one of the organisers said.