Impersonating as domestic help, this woman would steal gold from houses
Mumbai police have arrested a 30-year-old history sheeter woman who used to target rich families in elite areas of the city where she would work as a maid cum nanny for only few days before hatching a plot to decamp with the gold, jewellery and cash. Till now the city police have recovered over 500 grams of gold from her possession.
The accused Narmada alias Bharti Shinde, who came out of Byculla jail in December last year, entered a house in Girdhar Niwas, Colaba in south Mumbai, pretending to be a maid cum nanny and burglarised a house with 25 tolas (250 grams) gold and jewellery on January 25.
After four days, the house owner Shantabai Wavale realised that Narmada was the one who had run away with their gold. Wavale registered complaint against Narmada at Colaba police station on January 29.
“Narmada worked with Wavales as a maid for twothree days. While cleaning the house on January 25, she stole 25 tolas of gold and jewellery, which she hid in a plastic bag and told Wavale family that she was called outside to meet a person. After which, she never returned and her mobile was switched off,” said an officer from Colaba police station.
The Wavale family had videographed Narmada when she was giving an oil massage to the baby. The grab of the video and Call Data Record (CDR) of Narmada’s mobile phone helped investigators solve the case. The police took the video grab of Narmada and sent it to Byculla jail, since her CDR report showed she was in constant touch with the daughter of an inmate housed in Byculla jail.
Narmada was imprisoned in Byculla jail till December last year, where she struck a friendship with an inmate called Bharti Shinde. After Narmada was released, she took on the identity of Shinde to avoid being arrested or easily traced. She would target rich families in elite colonies across the city.
“She was in constant touch with the daughter of Shinde on the mobile, when we reached Shinde’s residence and asked her daughter about Bharti Shinde, she told us that her mother was still imprisoned in Byculla jail. We reached Byculla jail and showed Shinde the video grab of who revealed Narmada’s Mulund address,” said the officer.
But the police found that Narmada has sold her Mulund property.
Meanwhile, the Chembur police was also in search of Narmada who had stolen 45 tolas gold from a house using the same modus operandi. The Chembur police arrested Narmada on June 17 and on July 1, the Colaba police got her custody.
The officer said, “Narmada would recce before targeting the house using the same modus operandi. Narmada is wanted in 12 such cases registered at various police stations of Mumbai including Oshiwara, Matunga, Versova and other police stations,” said the officer.
One goldsmith to whom Narmada sold few stolen gold and jewellery has also been arrested.
At present, Narmada is in the custody of Colaba police till July 14.