Cuttack, Aug. 18: The arrest of five persons on Wednesday night following a failed robbery attempt at a petrol pump here has forced police to look into these filling stations that are becoming soft targets for criminals.

The cops have foiled at least three robbery attempts at petrol pumps in less than two months, including one at a Link Road filling station on Wednesday night.

Police sources said three separate groups targeted petrol pumps at Link Road, Choudhury Bazaar and Markatnagar. They planned to strike around midnight when these filling stations are flush with cash after the day's business before the money is moved to banks in the morning.

But the cops managed to foil the attempt and nab the criminals after timely tip-offs. They have arrested 10 persons in connection with the three attempted robberies, while six escaped. The police have already increased night patrolling around petrol pumps in the city.

On Wednesday, a Badambadi police station officer received a tip-off about a six-member gang planning to loot the filling station at Balighat in Khannagar. Acting on the alert, the cops raided Balighat and apprehended five persons, while one other escaped.

The police also recovered crude bomb-making ingredients, two packets of chilli powder, lethal weapons, a motorcycle and a mobile phone.

"As the five accused were gathered with lethal weapons and were preparing to commit a robbery at the petrol pump, we arrested them on Wednesday night and they were remanded in jail custody after being produced in court yesterday," said Birannchi Narayan Pati, Badambadi police station inspector-in-charge.

A senior police officer said the criminals had planned to first hurl bombs outside the petrol pump and then use chilli powder on the staff members before looting the money. They had kept the sharp weapons to stop the staff members from intervening.

The accused have been identified as Ranjit Sethi, 22, of Shankarpur, Sujit Kumar Rout, 23, of Balisahi, Jitu Mohanty, 24, of Dihasahi, Ajit Kumar Behera, 28, of Khannagar and Saroj Rout, 30, of Gatirautpatana.

The police said Saroj was arrested in 2012 in connection with the murder of a bus owner and remanded in jail custody. He formed the gang along with Ajit after he was released on bail. He had been named accused in cases of attempt to murder, bombing, using firearms and other criminal offences.

On the night of July 10, Purighat police station inspector Tapas Pradhan and his team arrested two persons from Gopaljeu Lane while they were preparing to loot the nearby petrol pump at Choudhury Bazaar. However, three others managed to escape. The also recovered a 9mm pistol, three rounds, a knife, a mobile phone and a motorcycle.

On June 2, a team from Markatnagar police station led by inspector Debendra Kumar Biswal responded to tip-off and intercepted a gang as they prepared to loot the petrol pump near Aswini Hospital.

They arrested three persons, while two others escaped. They also seized two guns, including a 7.62mm pistol, five rounds of live ammunition, a mobile phone and Rs 6,800 in cash.