37-year-old woman with 32 cases of house thefts held
MUMBAI: At first glance, few would guess 37-year-old Vandana Gaikwad could be a seasoned criminal.
However, despite her beguiling appearance, Gaikwad, a mother of three, has a hefty criminal record to her name and allegedly has over 32 cases of theft registered against her in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane.
Gaikwad was arrested by Khar police on Monday night for stealing gold ornaments worth ₹4 lakh from the house of a 23-year-old married woman staying on 16th Road in Khar.
The accused used a simple modus operandi where she approached the security guards of upscale apartments masquerading as a person looking for household work.
The security guards would then put her in touch with prospective employers. “Gaikwad would report to work the next day, commit the theft, and then never return to the same area,” said a police officer at Khar police station, requesting anonymity.
“When the employer used to ask for papers to do a police verification, she would tell them that she would submit the same in a few days,” said the officer. “At the moment, Vandana is wanted in 12 cases registered at Bandra, Khar, Santacruz and Oshiwara alone.”
Police sources added that once arrested, she would plead guilty before the judge to get a minimum sentence.
Originally a resident of Byculla, Gaikwad first started committing theft when she was 12 years old.
Police sources said she stole gold and silver ornaments from her employers’ houses in Byculla.
Discovering her daughter’s crime, Gaikwad’s mother took her to Byculla police station where she was arrested and sent to Dongri children’s home.
She continued to steal from other employers and at 14 was sent to a children’s home in Pune.
After returning to Mumbai, Gaikwad was again arrested at 18 by Nagpada police for stealing.
She was convicted for two years, and was released from Byculla woman’s prison in 2000. “Gaikwad has many cases against her and we are still verifying the total number,” said senior police inspector Sanjay More, Khar police station, stressing the importance of first-day police verifications for domestic staff.