Pune: The Pune Rural police claimed to have solved two cases of robbery in Narayangaon and Shirur after they arrested five suspects on Tuesday. The police also recovered gold jewellery worth Rs2.5 lakh from the suspects — all within the 18-20 age group and residents of Shirur.

According to the police, four arrests were made after a team from the crime branch scrutinised CCTV footage from various locations along a 120km stretch from the crime spots. “During questioning, the accused revealed the name of their fifth accomplice,” police inspector Avinash Shilimkar said. The gang is allegedly involved in the July 27 robbery at Thorat Vasti in Shirur taluka, where they targeted a 55-year-old woman.

One of the suspects, police said, slapped the woman and, when she raised an alarm, threatened her with a knife. “The suspects also cut the victim’s ear in their attempt to snatch her ring and fled with jewellery worth Rs1.2 lakh,” the officer said.

After 12 days, the suspects struck in Junnar taluka and robbed a 61-year-old farmer of jewellery worth Rs 1.8 lakh in Kaval Pimpri village after threatening her with a knife, the police said. According to Shilimkar, both the victims had told the police that the robbers used a motorcycle.

The officer said the gang is suspected to have targeted more women. “Our investigation is ongoing,” he added. We also published the following articles recently Womans suicide: Police suspect involvement of loan sharks Ernakulam rural police are.