Bhubaneswar: The gang of criminals robbing people after diverting their attention by throwing currency notes on the road has become active again.

It struck at Saheed Nagar on Thursday evening and took away an Apple laptop, two high-end mobile phones and other documents from a businessman in a busy market of the area.

"I had just parked my car when one person approached me. He knocked at the car door and pointed to the road below. As soon as I opened the door I found currency notes of Rs 10 scattered on the ground. I got off the car curiously, but by that time, my bag containing the valuables had gone missing," alleged the businessman.

Later, he lodged a complaint at Saheed Nagar police station. "We have received the complaint and visited the spot with the victim. We are trying to obtain CCTV footage of the nearby shops to identify the criminals," said assistant commissioner of police and in charge of Saheed Nagar police station Kishore Chandra Mund.

The police suspected the involvement of a Tamil Nadu-based gang, which is involved in number of such crimes in the city, behind the incident. To steal a bag or cash or any other valuable from a car, the gang deployed at least three people, who operate synchronously.

While one would drop notes and try to draw the attention of the driver, another one would be standing on the opposite side of the car.

The second person would open the back door at the same time when the driver would open his door to come out to collect the fallen notes.

During that time they would manage to take away things from the car and vanish from the area.

"Most of the times, the gang members would either trick the drivers by throwing currency notes on the roads or by saying that oil is leaking from the vehicle. Once they divert the attention of the driver, other person decamps with the valuables kept in the car. So, we advise people to remain alert in such circumstances," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.