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The surprising thing is that the entire operation took only 13 minutes. Between 2:30 am and 2:43 am, he finished 124 liters of fuel, loaded the cans into his car and drove away.
The thieves used a pipe to break the lid of the fuel tank and started draining diesel in 3 to 4 cans. (Image: AI generated)
A BMTC bus parked overnight at a petrol bunk in Rampura on the outskirts of Bengaluru became the victim of diesel theft, with around 124 liters of diesel spilled while the driver and conductor were sleeping inside. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 am on December 2 but came to light much later, has raised new concerns about the safety of buses parked at isolated or poorly monitored locations. The value of the stolen diesel is estimated to be around Rs 11 thousand.
How did the incident unfold?
According to the complaint lodged by driver Shivappa MS, the bus from Depot 47 in Mandur had completed its last journey on Route 367/1 between Rampura and KR Market on the night of December 1. After finishing their scheduled runs, Shivappa and conductor Manjunath BC reached the Rampura petrol bunk around 11 pm, parked the bus, had dinner and slept inside, as they always do during the night.
What seemed like a routine night turned into a carefully executed robbery. Later, in the CCTV footage, a Tata Indica car was seen coming near the cot at around 2.30 in the night. Two people came out, parked the car about 10 meters away from the BMTC bus and started monitoring the activities of the crew. One of the miscreants even peeked inside the bus to confirm that the driver and conductor were fast asleep.
Diesel ran out in just 13 minutes!
Once they were sure they would not be interrupted, the thieves used a pipe to break the fuel tank lid and began draining diesel into 3 to 4 cans. The surprising thing is that the entire operation took only 13 minutes. Between 2:30 am and 2:43 am, he finished 124 liters of fuel, loaded the cans into his car and drove away.
The petrol bunk staff, who ceased operations at 11 pm and slept in a nearby room until re-opening at 6 am, were unaware of any activity. The lack of surveillance or security personnel at night made it easier for miscreants to commit thefts.
The theft was not discovered until the next morning. The team woke up at 4:30 am, started from Rampura at 5 am and moved towards the city. But when the bus reached Halasuru, the engine suddenly stopped.
Confused, he contacted the depot, expecting it to be a mechanical problem. Just then the depot staff noted that the fuel log clearly showed that there must still be more than 124 liters of diesel in the bus.
The driver and conductor returned to Rampura petrol pump after realizing something was wrong. A look at the CCTV footage revealed the entire sequence of events – two men, a car, pipes, cans and a quick getaway.
Complaint registered and investigation started
Driver Shivappa, who has served in BMTC for over 12 years, lodged a formal complaint on December 3. Abalahalli police registered a case under section 304 (theft) of the Indian Judicial Code and started investigation.
However, officials say CCTV footage is proving challenging. The car number is not clearly visible due to the angle and quality of the footage. The faces of the thieves are also looking blurred, making identification difficult.
Safety concerns for BMTC buses
The incident has raised serious questions over the safety protocols for BMTC buses that are parked overnight. Many buses stop at petrol bunks, depots or layover points where security personnel are either absent or limited during the night. With rising fuel prices, thieves are targeting diesel tanks for quick, high-value thefts.
Petrol bunk operators have also admitted that their nightly staffing patterns do not take into account too much overtime. This vulnerability, combined with poor camera angles and low-resolution footage, has made it easy for thieves to attack.
what happens next
Police are now trying to gather additional clues, including checking nearby CCTV cameras and tracking similar incidents in the area. Meanwhile, BMTC is expected to review its night parking practices. Additional lighting, better surveillance cameras, closed yards and coordinated security patrols may be among the measures that may be considered.
The value of the stolen diesel may be around Rs 11,000, but the bigger issue is the exposure of the security flaw. The incident has forced BMTC to rethink how it protects its buses when the city sleeps.
09 December, 2025, 11:55 IST
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