In a major breakthrough, the Surat Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested four individuals, including a woman, for their involvement in stealing valuables from unsuspecting passengers. The gang had been operating in the Tarsali area of Surat, luring women into auto rickshaws and stealing gold chains from them.
The gang members—identified as Shakil Vohra, Salman Vohra, Jafar Mansuri, and Shirin Vohra—targeted women passengers in the city. They would lure them into their auto rickshaw by offering a ride. Once inside, two of the gang members would sit in the passenger’s seat alongside the victim. After a while, they would engage the victim in a conversation to distract her, and while her attention was diverted, they would steal gold chains and other valuables.
The gang’s operations were successful for some time until the DCB received information about their activities in the Panigate area. Acting swiftly on the intelligence, a team from the DCB intercepted the suspects and questioned them about their movements.
During the questioning, the police found two gold chains and three mobile phones from the suspects. Upon further investigation, the accused admitted to their role in the theft incidents, including two instances in the Tarsali area about a month-and-a-half ago.
The gang’s arrest is a significant step towards addressing the growing issue of theft in public transport in Surat. The DCB is continuing its investigation to determine if there are more victims and to track the full scope of the gang’s activities.
