Interview with Two Victims of Impersonator Officers / Both Stylish and Equipped

According to Rokna, three members of a gang of impersonator officers, who used official uniforms, forged identification documents, weapons, and radios to rob citizens in Tehran, were identified and arrested by the police.

One of the complainants in this case, a courier for Tipax Company, shared shocking details of the day of the theft in an interview with our reporter. He said: "In Khordad of this year, near the Zarabkhaneh Bridge in the Pasdaran district of Tehran, two men wearing formal suits, carrying identification documents, weapons, radios, and driving a brand-new vehicle, approached me and introduced themselves as officers. They said I was under investigation and that the items I was carrying had to be transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence to be scanned, otherwise, I would be accused of being a smuggler."

The Tipax officer, who was carrying parcels sent by people, continued: "Their accomplice came and pulled the motorbike’s wire so I could not follow them. They threw all the items from my motorbike into their car and immediately fled the scene. I was shocked; they took my documents, phone, parcels, and even my personal money."

According to the complainant, the gang appeared very professional, and no one suspected that they were not real officers: "Their appearance was very credible. Their uniforms matched an official organization, they presented identification, and even the way they spoke was completely formal."

This individual, who was under pressure due to the theft of the company’s parcels, said: "Tipax blamed me, deducted 230 million tomans from me, and even enforced the promissory notes I had given as a guarantee. It took more than a month for me to prove that I was not the thief myself."

Ultimately, with the efforts of Tehran’s Criminal Investigation Police, this three-member gang was identified and arrested. Investigations into the suspects continue, and the police have called on citizens who have fallen victim to similar social acts to visit the Criminal Investigation Police to pursue their legal rights.

Stolen Items from the Three Impersonator Officers

Another victim of this gang, a courier for a jewelry shop, described the manner of the theft in an interview with our reporter.

He said: "In early Ordibehesht, after I left the shop and had gone a short distance into the street, a Peugeot car stopped beside me. One of these thieves was inside; he had a radio, documents, neat clothes, and a completely credible appearance. He was so polite and gentlemanly that I never suspected he was not a real officer."

He continued: "He introduced himself as an officer and said he needed to inspect my bag. He saw some gold inside a plastic bag and then put the items back into my bag, saying there was no problem. I relaxed and went toward my motorbike, but when I turned back, I saw their car was gone and they had fled."

According to this jewelry shop courier, the thieves would patrol around the shop several times and watch the customers; once the victims left the shop, they would follow them and present themselves as officers.

He added: "When I informed the shop owner about the matter, fortunately, no problems occurred and we just filed a complaint. With the photos and details provided to the police station, the case was pursued and eventually referred to the Criminal Investigation Police. Now, after several months, these individuals have been arrested."

The victim concluded: "When I came to the Criminal Investigation Police today and saw the officers had arrested these individuals, I felt very good. Finally, I feel that justice has been served and I have reclaimed my rights."

According to police announcements, this three-member gang used deceptive appearances, radios, forged documents, and claims of affiliation with security organizations to steal gold, money, and valuable items. Further investigations into other possible social acts by these individuals continue.