Mumbai: Reverse investigation used to nab ‘unidentifiable’ thieves

The Malvani police have arrested two sisters who allegedly stole a gold earring from a jewellery shop while wearing burqas to conceal their identities. As they couldn’t be identified using the shop’s CCTV footage, the police conducted a ‘reverse investigation’ to nab the duo.

According to the police, the incident occurred on April 14 at Raj Jeweller, located near Malvani Gate No. 7. Posing as customers, the women entered the shop and engaged the shopkeeper in a conversation while looking at various jewellery designs. Taking advantage of a momentary distraction, they stole a gold earring weighing 9 grams and left the shop shortly afterwards, without making a purchase.

The women leaving hastily

Later that evening, when the shopkeeper was taking stock of the jewellery, he noticed that one earring was missing. Despite an extensive search, the earring could not be found. Upon reviewing CCTV footage, one of the women was seen stealing the earring. The shopkeeper then filed a police complaint. A case was registered, and under the guidance of DCP (Zone XI) Anand Bhoite, API Harish Shilamkar and the detection team began the investigation. “The women could not be identified initially due to the burqas. So, we began a reverse investigation to determine how they had arrived at the jewellery shop,” said an officer.

By reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area, the police discovered that the women had arrived in an auto-rickshaw, got off a short distance away from the shop, and walked the rest of the way. The route taken by the auto was traced back to Hindustan Naka in Kandivli West, where the women had boarded it.

“With further inquiries in the neighbourhood—and by sharing the CCTV footage—the police gathered clues about the women’s identities, which led to their arrest at their residence on April 19. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime,” said an officer from Malvani police station.

The arrested women, aged 23 and 28, were produced before court and remanded to judicial custody. During questioning, it was revealed that the elder sister had a two-and-a-half-year-old child. “The woman was in a poor financial condition, and her child was ill. With no money for treatment, she was compelled to steal. So far, no other criminal record has been found against either of the sisters,” the officer added.

Senior PI Shailendra Nagarkar of Malvani police station confirmed the arrest of the duo.