A lorry theft involving sunflower oil packets worth approximately Rs. 28 lakh (USD 31,000) has caused a stir in Kakinada district. The incident unfolded when the owner of the lorry loaded sunflower oil packets from an oil company destined for Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He parked the vehicle near a temple in Pithapuram and handed over to the driver. However, when the driver went to retrieve the lorry the next morning, it was missing.
Shocked by the disappearance, the driver immediately informed the owner and the police. Acting swiftly, authorities examined CCTV footage and confirmed that the lorry had crossed the Gollaprolu toll plaza at 1:27 a.m. The Kakinada police alerted stations along the route toward Visakhapatnam to track the stolen vehicle.
Subsequently, Pithapuram police received a tip-off that the lorry had been spotted on the Tuni National Highway. Upon reaching the location, officers discovered the vehicle abandoned, with the sunflower oil packets stolen. Only the empty lorry remained by the roadside. A case was registered based on the owner’s complaint, and further investigation is underway. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the area where the lorry was abandoned to identify the culprits.
Authorities suspect the involvement of an organized robbery gang, as similar highway thefts have been reported in Andhra Pradesh in the past. The recent incident follows other vehicle thefts, including one in Nellore district where a man stole a bus. The police continue efforts to trace those responsible for the lorry theft and recover the stolen goods.
