Manager robs store in burqa, gait exposes him

28-year-old supervisor stole cash from his own clothing store in mall concealed behind a burqa, but his distinctive walk, captured on CCTV camera, gave him away

It was a perfectly plotted heist committed in disguise. But at the end, the culprit's peculiar gait betrayed him.

The NM Joshi Marg police yesterday arrested an apparels' store manager for allegedly robbing his own showroom.


The Latin Quarters store at Phoenix Mills compound, Lower Parel. The manager of the store meticulously planned his moves, made duplicate keys to the showroom and went on a week's leave before the robbery


The manager took several precautions; including wearing a burqa, but his manner of walking was caught on the surveillance camera, which proved to be his undoing.

The incident took place at the Latin Quarters store in the Palladium mall, Phoenix Mills compound, Lower Parel. The accused, identified as Mohammad Irfan Mohammad Feroz Khan (28), was supervising the store for the last one year.

Before committing the theft, he meticulously planned his moves. He made duplicate keys to the showroom and went on a week's leave before the robbery.

Last week, on Sunday night, he opened the showroom with the duplicate keys and made off with Rs 59,544 in cash. The day after, when the store's owner came to know of the theft, he registered a first information report (FIR) with the NM Joshi Marg police station.

During investigations, cops checked the CCTV footage to look for clues. The robber had worn a burqa, but the way he was walking reminded the showroom's proprietor of something. The walking style matched with that of his store manager.

He shared his doubts with the cops, who called Khan on his mobile. But he told them that he was in Kolkata. When they traced his location on the basis of the call he had made, they found that he was actually in Colaba.

This reaffirmed their suspicion. But to be certain, they made another employee call him up to ask if he could meet him anywhere in Mumbai. Khan showed up in Bandra to meet his colleague. The police, who were waiting at the spot, arrested him.

"We have arrested Khan and recovered the stolen cash," said Sudhakar Ghagre, senior inspector, NM Joshi Marg police station.

Khan was living with his mother's sister in Malad. An HSC pass-out, he had spent Rs 950 from the money he had stolen.