Pune: The increasing number of sandalwood thefts in Pune has left residents concerned about their safety. In the latest incident, a group of thieves entered a bungalow near Fergusson Road and cut down a sandalwood tree after threatening the owner.

The thieves warned the owner, Aryan Shirole, not to raise an alarm or they would throw stones at him. The incident occurred in the early hours around 4:30 a.m., when Shirole heard noises from his compound.

Upon stepping outside, Shirole saw three to four thieves sawing the sandalwood tree. When he tried to intervene by shouting for help, the thieves warned him not to make any noise, threatening to harm him if he did. After successfully cutting down the tree, the thieves fled into the darkness, leaving Shirole helpless.

Shirole later filed a complaint with the Deccan Police Station, and police officers, led by Sub-Inspector Mahesh Bhosale, are investigating the case.

This incident is part of a growing trend of sandalwood thefts in the city. Just a week earlier, thieves had stolen a sandalwood tree from a society on Law College Road.

Additionally, other incidents have been reported where sandalwood trees were stolen from societies, government offices, and educational institutions in areas like Mukund Nagar, Market Yard, and Prabhat Road. In one case, a lawyer was threatened with a weapon by the thieves before they made off with a tree.

Despite the rising number of thefts, the police have so far been unsuccessful in apprehending the culprits. Thefts from high-security areas, including the Khadki Ammunition Factory compound, further highlight the brazenness of the thieves, adding to the growing concerns of residents and authorities alike.