Elderly woman robbed of Rs 5 lakh in Surat

The armed robbers fled away with a booty including 200 pounds notes,one lakh rupees Indian currency and gold ornaments worth Rs 3.9 lakh.

According to police sources,Dudhi Patel (75) has been staying alone in her house in Nishar Falia in Punagam since her children left for foreign shores.

The robbers gagged the old woman who had entered the drawing room after she was alerted by the noise made by them.

Threatening the woman with sharp weapons,the robbers forced her to hand them over the almirah keys. After stealing 200 pounds,Rs 1 lakh Indian currency and gold ornaments worth Rs 3.9 lakh,the robbers escaped from the place safety.

Patel,later,called her neighbours and informed them about the incident. Police officers,who rushed to the spot with sniffer dogs,have started investigation in the incident.

Additional Commissioner of Police,Range II,Shamsher Singh,said,“We have not been able to find out as to how the robbers entered the well protected house without leaving any trace.”

He said the old woman has weak eyesight but she could hear that the robbers interacted among themselves in Marathi. She suspects involvement of a scrap cart puller whose voice she could recognise,he said.

Singh said the cart puller might have entered the house early during the day and opened the gate for his accomplice at night. The police are investigating the matter further,he said.

Singh further said we will issue a notification in the coming days to instruct all the police stations to keep records of senior citizens staying alone in their areas.

The elderly people living alone in the area will also be given phone numbers of nearby police stations and even of police officers so that they can call them in case of urgency.