Mumbai Crime: Police arrest three women for break-In and theft in Matunga

Screengrab from CCTV footage

Matunga cops have arrested three women and detained one minor for unlawfully entering the office of an elderly man and making off with a mobile phone and cash.

The videos of these women had gone viral in Matunga and Dadar, creating panic among the citizens. Matunga police stepped up their vigilance after complaints from residents and local representatives reached out to them. Cops have detained three minors as well in the case.

The primary investigation has revealed that women have been booked for stealing in a similar way at RAK Marg and Nehru Nagar police stations.

On October 31, around 11.47 am a teenage girl lurked inside an office of Sanjeev Parekh (62) at Hindu Colony, Dadar (E). The girl saw there was no one except him; three more women barged into his home. "The woman asked for water, and when the elderly walked inside the kitchen, they stole cash worth Rs 2,000 and a mobile phone," said an official from Matunga police station.

Soon after this incident, CCTV footage of it went viral in Dadar and Matunga. One after the other, citizens raised complaints claiming they had also spotted such women in their building premises. The videos had created panic in the area.

"Some residents sent me similar videos claiming mobile phones have been stolen from their home too when their door was open. I immediately informed the incident to Matunga Police and asked citizens and my party workers were also keeping vigilance within the area" said Nehal Shah, former corporator at F/North ward. "Today one of my party workers informed cops that these women were seen at Bhalchandra Road, and cops immediately got active" she added.

"We came to know that, women were seen at Bhalchandra Road. Police mobile van no. 2 and 5 began patrolling. They spotted 3 women looking similar who were seen in the video" said another officer. "The 3 women and 3 minor girls were immediately detained and brought to the police station" added the officer.

The three women were questioned and they confessed to stealing mobile phones and cash from the houses in Matunga and Dadar area. Cops recovered 6 mobile phones worth 34 thousand rupees and R2000 cash. The woman identified as Rekha Rathod (35), Nili Pawar (30), Manisha Pawar (20).

"All the three women and 3 minors belong from Gujrat. They were keeping an eye on the houses which are open or have only elderly persons inside. They would sneak in asking for water and keep busy in talks, meanwhile, other women would also sneak in and steal valuables" said Deepak Chavhan, Senior Inspector of Matunga police station. "The preliminary investigation has revealed women have stolen within the jurisdiction of RAK Marg and Nehru Nagar police station" he added.