Malad Police have booked a 28-year-old employee of an online platform for allegedly stealing gold ornaments worth Rs5.15 lakh from the home of a Malad West resident who had hired him for a haircut. The accused, Shehjaz Pathan, was hired through the Urban Company platform and visited the victim’s house on November 2, 2024, where he carried out the theft during a home service appointment.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the victim, Daw Samdup (39), a private company employee, had booked the haircut service a day earlier, on November 1. Pathan, who was assigned the job, contacted Samdup to confirm the visit, and arrived at Samdup’s residence around 12:30 pm the next day. Samdup led him to the bedroom for the haircut, where Pathan began cutting his hair.
While performing the haircut, Pathan allegedly noticed dark spots on Samdup’s face and suggested an additional facial treatment to improve his complexion. Trusting the barber, Samdup agreed, and Pathan proceeded with the treatment after completing the haircut. As part of the treatment, Pathan applied various creams and covered Samdup’s eyes with a cloth strip, instructing him not to open his eyes for a while.
During the procedure, Samdup reported hearing a sound similar to someone opening a cupboard. However, he did not think much of it, assuming that Pathan had accidentally bumped into it. After the facial treatment was completed, Pathan took his payment and left the premises.
It was only after Pathan’s departure that Samdup discovered the cupboard in his bedroom was open. Upon checking, he realized that several gold ornaments—a 35-gram gold chain, a 25-gram gold chain, and a 21-gram gold bangle—were missing. Initially, Samdup asked his mother if she had taken the items, but she denied it. Growing suspicious of Pathan’s involvement, Samdup approached the Malad Police and filed a complaint.
A case was registered against Shehjaz Pathan under section 305(a) (theft in dwelling houses) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code). The police are currently investigating the case, and further actions are being taken to locate the accused.
This incident highlights a growing concern regarding fraudulent activities associated with home services booked online. As more people rely on platforms like Urban Company for convenience, incidents like these serve as a cautionary tale for consumers to be vigilant when inviting service providers into their homes.