New Delhi, April 10 The Delhi Police have arrested a 38-year-old woman, alleged to be the mastermind of a racket targeting other women in hospitals and temples, stealing their jewelry and other valuables, an official said on Friday.
The accused, identified as Paro, a resident of Bawana, was wanted in at least three cases and had been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases in 2023, he said.
According to the police, the gang operated by identifying women who appeared to be alone or in a vulnerable condition in crowded public places such as hospital premises and temple complexes. The accused and her associates would approach the victims under various pretenses, including offering help or engaging them in casual conversation.
They would then gradually manipulate the victims, creating confusion or fear to lower their alertness, before deceitfully taking away gold ornaments and other valuables, police said.
In one such case registered at the I P Estate police station in 2023, a woman was targeted at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital and her jewelry was stolen in a similar manner.
"A crime branch team was specifically tasked to crack the pattern of such offences. After analysing CCTV footage from around 50 locations and conducting sustained surveillance for nearly a month, the team zeroed in on the accused and apprehended her from Bawana on April 9," the officer said.
Police said Paro, who studied up to class 8, turned to crime due to financial distress and family issues. She is married and has three children. She was found involved in cases registered at the I P Estate and Mandir Marg police stations under cheating charges. Efforts are underway to trace her associates, police said.