LUCKNOW, Aug. 18 -- Small, secluded paan and cigarette kiosks (gumtis) have become easy targets for thieves in Lucknow these days, with the recent incident reported in the Jankipuram area. In this area, a group is allegedly active in carrying out stealing sprees at small shops. What may seem like a minor item, can become a convenient lure for thieves looking for quick gains, said Lucknow police in a statement on Monday. Small paan and cigarette kiosks are emerging as easy targets for a group of thieves operating under the cover of darkness, with a Jankipuram kiosk being the latest to report a break-in, Lucknow police said. "The theft took place between 1am and 4 am on the intervening night of August 15 and 16 at a kiosk run by Neeraj Gupta near the Sulabh toilet on Madiyaon Village Road. The unidentified thieves allegedly fled with around Rs 15,000 in cash and cigarette stock," said station house officer (SHO) Jankipuram VK Tiwari. Police said the incident is being examined in light of similar thefts reported at small cigarette and paan counters in different parts of the city. Investigators are checking whether the same group could be behind multiple such incidents. According to police, the modus operandi appears to involve targeting small roadside counters during the early hours, when the shops are shut and the surrounding areas have little footfall. Lucknow Police are examining CCTV footage from nearby routes to establish how the suspects approached the kiosk and where they fled after the theft. "A police team inspected the kiosk after the theft was reported and collected available evidence. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being scrutinised, while investigators are also gathering information about similar incidents to establish whether there is a common link," the station house officer added. Police have not yet identified the suspects and are working to establish the number of people involved in the Jankipuram theft. The incident has also prompted investigators to look at the possibility that the thieves may have been familiar with the locations of small cigarette counters and their operating hours. Further investigation is underway to identify the accused and ascertain their involvement in other similar thefts in the city....