The Wadi police have arrested four members of a theft gang from Ahmedabad responsible for stealing cash and valuables from an NRI woman visiting the city. The accused include three women and one man, who reportedly camped in Ahmedabad to commit thefts in crowded areas.
Police said the gang had been operating in Ahmedabad for several years. According to Inspector J R Gamit, “The accused came to the city and visited old city areas that are often crowded. They spotted the victim, Sunanda Malusare, in Ghadiyali Pol and followed her.”
On Saturday, one of the gang members allegedly snatched her purse while she was shopping on the street. The stolen purse contained gold jewellery worth Rs7.15 lakh and Rs41,000 in cash. Malusare, a resident of Maharashtra, noticed the theft after returning to her hotel room and filed a complaint at Wadi police station.
Using CCTV footage and a tip-off, the police tracked down the accused, identified as Bharat Dantani, Suman Dantani, Hetal Malu, and Chanda Devipujak. Reports indicate that all four are footpath dwellers and have a history of committing thefts together.
Police records show that Bharat Dantani has eight previous theft cases, Suman Dantani is accused in two cases, and Hetal Malu had a prior theft case registered by Shaherkotda police station in Ahmedabad.
Authorities recovered all the stolen jewellery from the suspects. Bharat Dantani was produced in court and remanded to one day of police custody, while investigations continue to determine if the gang is linked to other thefts in the city.
