Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra – In a major breakthrough, the Nerul police arrested a female caretaker and her accomplice for stealing gold ornaments worth Rs23 lakh from the residence where she was hired to care for a post-surgery patient.
The arrested individuals are identified as Varsha Kamble (34) and her associate Rakesh Khopatkar (40).
According to Senior Inspector Brahmanand Naikwadi, the theft came to light over a month after the incident, when Milind Bhoir (38), a resident of Shirawane village in Nerul, discovered that 230 grams of gold ornaments were missing from his cupboard. Bhoir had appointed Kamble to care for his mother following a knee replacement surgery.
As suspicions mounted, a police complaint was lodged against Kamble. During interrogation, she admitted to stealing the gold and handing it over to her friend Khopatkar, who fled to West Bengal and sold the ornaments.
“Using technical surveillance and CCTV footage, we tracked Khopatkar’s escape via a long-distance train,” said Naikwadi. “Upon learning he was returning to Mumbai, we coordinated with GRP authorities and detained him at Kalyan railway station.”
During questioning, Khopatkar revealed the buyer’s identity in Siliguri, West Bengal. A police team led by PSI Tushar Bachchav was dispatched to Siliguri, where the stolen gold was successfully recovered from the buyer.
The case highlights how technology, coordination, and prompt action can lead to the recovery of stolen valuables even across state lines.
