THREE MINORS ARRESTED FOR STEALING MOBILE PHONES, CASH

VASHI: The Vashi police on Monday arrested three minors after they were caught stealing on camera during a wedding recently.

Aged between 10 and 15, the three had been committing similar crimes for the past one month and reportedly confessed to stealing at two other marriages in the city as well.

On March 5, the trio had stolen cash and valuable items including mobile phones and a purse at a wedding ceremony at Abbott hotel in Vashi. The allegedly also stole cash worth Rs17,000 from there.

Following a complaint at the Vashi police station, the police sought video footage from the CCTV cameras at the hotel and identified the three boys. Subsequently their sketches were prepared and circulated.

Meanwhile, a group of boys who were caught stealing redhanded at the Vashi bus depot were handed over to Vashi police by citizens. It was then that the police realised that this was same group of boys. After being questioned, the trio confessed to their crime. They admitted to stealing cash worth Rs50,000 and two mobile phones.

Senior police inspector Raosaheb Sardesai of Vashi police station said, “The boys have admitted that they would stealthily enter various functions held at hotels and banquet halls in Vashi.”

“They would then steal expensive items when people were busy attending the events,” added Sardesai.

All three, who are residents of Chembur, originally hail from Uttar Pradesh and have been sent to a children’s remand home.