The Matunga police have arrested two women who used to pose as maids and approach people in plush housing societies for work, and then, ransack the place within a couple of days of joining
Cops arrested Bharti Shinde and Vanita Gaikwad within two days
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The Matunga police have arrested two women who used to pose as maids and approach people in plush housing societies for work, and then, ransack the place within a couple of days of joining.
The accused, Vanita Gaikwad and Bharti Shinde, who were arrested for stealing R12 lakh from a Matunga house, have more than 20 cases of theft registered against them.
All in a day's work
The duo's run ended with Matunga East resident Kantilal Gala, 57, a businessman, who was in need of a maid. On June 30, his driver was approached by the building watchman saying two women had come asking for work. He took them to the family and Gala's wife interviewed both and asked the elder of the two to start at their house full-time; a monthly salary of R8,000 was agreed upon.
The maid, who gave her name only as Savita, came to the Galas' house without any luggage. When Gala asked her about it, she said her cousin would bring it. The same day, a relative of the Galas passed away and the couple left for the funeral. While leaving, they spotted Savita's cousin, identified as Kavita, waiting near the premises. When Gala asked her why she was there, she said she was waiting for her sister.
Gala returned home around 8 pm and saw Savita wasn't around. The next day (July 1), when he was searching for R15.3 lakh cash that he had brought home to pay off some bills, he found R12 lakh missing. Realising it could be Savita's handiwork, he approached the cops.
Giving chase
The police took the description of the two women and found out their real names. Within two days, Gaikwad was arrested from PL Lokhande Marg and Shinde from Nalasopara.
"Both have many cases against them. Within two days of joining a house for work, they would steal cash from the house," an officer said. The police have been able to recover only R70,000 from them; the duo invested a majority of the stolen amount in gold.
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