MUMBAI: Three history sheeters allegedly stole gutka worth Rs 15 lakh from the local crime branch office in Vasai as they were aware that cops are away on lockdown duty.The consignment being transported in a truck was seized by the Virar police last month. The accused had managed to abandon the truck and flee. Details and value of the gutka was noted down by the cops and the truck was parked outside the crime branch office in Vasai.Following the country-wide lockdown from March 24, the police were busy on streets ensuring that people did not step out of their homes.Early this week, during a routine check of the premises by the police, they found the truck tampered with. They were shocked to find that the bags containing the gutka were missing from the truck.On investigation, the suspicion was raised on an history sheeter Mohammed Shaikh (22) who was visiting the crime branch office since the past 10 days.Shaikh was picked up and on questioning he confessed to having stolen two bags at a time. The bags were thrown across the crime branch office wall, where his accomplice Farooq Kazi would collect it. The two along with a 17-year-old boy had managed to sell the gutka at a premium due to the lockdown.Shaikh had been recently released after serving a three-year-jail term. Shaikh told the police that he was able to steal the bags with ease as there were few cops around the crime branch office.Shaikh told the police that due to the lockdown they managed to sell most of the gutka. Police retrieved a few bags from them. The two men have been remanded to police custody till April 19. The minor has been send to the Bhiwandi Children remand home.