Nagpur: A series of laptop thefts at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, has raised concerns over a possible organised theft racket operating within the campus. Four laptops were reportedly stolen in two separate incidents within a fortnight, prompting Bajaj Nagar Police to intensify their investigation and examine possible security lapses.

The first theft was reported on August 11 from the Architecture Department. According to police, a bag containing two laptops valued at approximately ₹1.60 lakh was stolen from Classroom 4B between 10 am and 11 am. Investigators have identified the suspected thief as an outsider and are probing how the person managed to enter the institute premises.

Police are examining campus entry records, CCTV footage and the movement of visitors to determine whether the theft was facilitated by lapses in security. Investigators are also questioning security personnel to ascertain whether unknown individuals were allowed entry without proper verification.

Another theft was reported barely a week later, on August 19, from the girls’ hostel. Two laptops were allegedly stolen from the room of a 19-year-old student, bringing the total number of laptops stolen in the two incidents to four.

The repeated thefts have intensified suspicions that an organised gang could be targeting students and exploiting security loopholes on the campus.

Sources said VNIT has more than 230 security personnel deployed through different agencies. Police are now questioning security staff and scrutinising entry registers, CCTV recordings and visitor movement to establish whether there is any connection between the two incidents.

The investigation is underway, with police focusing on identifying the accused and determining whether the thefts were isolated incidents or part of a larger racket operating inside the VNIT campus.