Gone in 6 minutes: Thieves loot Rs 15.5 lakh, pistol from Punjab oil factory

In just six minutes of silence and speed, unknown thieves stormed an oil factory in Punjab’s Faridkot district, stripped it of Rs 15.5 lakh in cash, a licensed pistol and its CCTV recording system, and disappeared into the night, leaving behind shock, suspicion and a trail of unanswered questions.

The audacious theft took place in the Jaito area in the early hours, despite Punjab Police’s ongoing night checking drives.

A PERFECTLY TIMED STRIKE AT 3.20 AM

According to preliminary findings, the burglars entered the factory premises around 3.20 am. Within minutes, they located the cash kept inside, removed a licensed weapon and uprooted the DVR connected to the surveillance cameras.

By the time anyone realised what had happened, the thieves were already gone.

Investigators say the entire operation was executed in barely six minutes, suggesting careful planning and possible inside information.

‘WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A SMALL THEFT’, SAYS OWNER

The crime surfaced nearly 40 minutes later, when the factory’s security guard called the owner around 4 am.

Factory owner Bhim Sen recalled the moment he received the call.

“At around 4 am, the guard told us there had been a small theft. We rushed to the factory and informed the police. When we checked properly, we found that Rs 15.5 lakh in cash, a pistol and the DVR were missing,” he said.

He added that the delay in reporting had raised serious doubts.

“The theft happened at 3.20 am, but he informed us much later. Everything was finished in six minutes. Because of this delay, we suspect that he may have been involved with the thieves,” Bhim Sen said.

GUARD UNDER SCANNER AS POLICE QUESTION SUSPECTS

With suspicion mounting, the police have begun questioning the security guard along with other possible suspects.

DSP Jaito Iqbal Singh Sandhu confirmed that a formal case had been registered and multiple angles were being examined.

“We received information about a theft at an oil mill in Jaito. Around Rs 15.5 lakh in cash, a weapon and a DVR have been stolen. We are conducting questioning and verification. The accused will be arrested soon,” he said.

Police teams are also analysing footage from nearby cameras in an attempt to trace the escape route of the suspects.

NIGHT PATROLS FAIL TO DETER THIEVES

The incident has once again exposed the challenges faced by law enforcement, even as Punjab Police continues night patrols and checking drives across the state.

Despite heightened vigilance, criminals managed to carry out a swift and clean operation, removing not only valuables but also the primary digital evidence.

Investigators are now working to recover the stolen cash, the licensed pistol and the DVR, while establishing whether the theft was an inside job or the work of an organised gang.

Further developments are expected as the probe progresses.