Mumbai crime: Burqa-clad thief, partner in MIDC police net

CCTV grabs show Raees Shaikh inside the Marol residence, with and without the burqa, while committing the theft

A duo who ransacked Muslim households and evaded the police by donning a burqa were apprehended by the MIDC police on Saturday. Accused in a number of other cases, the duo has been identified as Raees Abdul Ahad Shaikh, 36, and Waseem Khalid Khan alias Billa, 33. Incidentally, Shaikh planned the latest theft to repay an acquaintance who paid his bail when he was in jail for a previous crime.

According to police sources, the accused targeted the houses of Muslims after conducting meticulous surveillance. One of them donned a burqa during the operation, because of which they escaped the police's lens in the past. However, their luck ran out when they targeted a house equipped with a hidden CCTV camera in Mukund Nagar Society, Marol, Andheri East, on November 3.

"CCTV footage from the camera concealed inside the house revealed the burqa-clad person to be a man. The duo was soon identified and arrested on Saturday, and the stolen goods were recovered," said a source.

"The incident took place when the family's domestic help had gone to the school to pick up her employer's daughter. Upon returning, she found the bedroom ransacked. Valuables and cash worth approximately Rs 4.5 lakh were missing," said an officer from MIDC police. A case was registered by Zaheer Ansari, 45.
Shaikh wore the burqa to blend into the community. After entering a house, Shaikh would remove the burqa, search the house and steal the valuables. Khan, stationed outside, would alert Shaikh if anyone approached.

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Waseem Khan standing guard outside the Marol residence targeted on November 3

"Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone X Datta Nalawade, Senior Police Inspector (PI) Satish Gaikwad, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Manoj Darade, and Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Anandrao Kashid, the investigation team comprised Constable Gautam Bade, Head Constable Tanaji Avhad, Constable Tushar Jadhav, Constable Ashol Avghade, Constable Prakash Shinde and Constable Dinesh Lokhande. The duo was found in Jogeshwari East, Bandra Plot area, and arrested," said an officer from MIDC police.

Past cases

Cases against Shaikh and Khan span 18 police stations in Mumbai and Palghar. Shaikh was arrested by Kandivli police a few months ago and recently released on bail this month. A police source revealed that one of Shaikh's acquaintances paid his bail on the condition that he would repay double the bail amount. Having no money, Shaikh planned the November 3 theft to repay his acquaintance.

Raees Shaikh and Waseem Khan

The duo was produced before the court and has been remanded in police custody.

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Other cases in Mumbai, Palghar against duo