The Delhi Police have dismantled two separate women-led theft gangs targeting female passengers at elevators and escalators across major railway stations. Five women have been arrested, and jewellery, cash and wristwatches worth Rs1 crore have been recovered.
Police said that one of the arrested accused, Laxmi, is a habitual offender with 13 previous cases registered against her.
The first gang was detected at Sarai Rohilla railway station, where an inter-state group from Gujarat allegedly operated inside crowded elevator cabins. The women targeted handbags of female passengers during peak movement, often fleeing Delhi and changing rented accommodations to evade surveillance. At the instance of one arrested member, stolen property worth Rs70 lakh was recovered.
In a separate case, a Delhi-based escalator theft group from Anand Parbat’s Faridpuri Camp was busted at New Delhi railway station. This gang specifically targeted elderly or distracted passengers carrying jewellery bags, quickly removing valuables during escalator movement before disappearing into the crowd. Four members were arrested with assets worth Rs30 lakh recovered.
Investigators analysed over 100 CCTV camera feeds from multiple locations and used a mix of technical and ground intelligence to map escape routes and identify hotspots used by the gangs.
Police have advised women passengers to remain vigilant while using elevators and escalators and to keep their handbags secured at all times.
