Domestic help wanted in 13 theft cases held

Police said Gaikwad was involved in two recent theft cases registered at Oshiwara police station. The first case was registered by Nirav Parekh on June 19,and the second by Bismilllah Anwar Shaikh on July 4. A domestic help had allegedly robbed jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh from both the households.

Officers from Oshiwara police station said Gaikwad used to do rounds of buildings across the city and approached watchmen and security guards posted there to find out whether any resident needed a domestic help. On being informed of prospective jobs by these guards,Gaikwad allegedly approached the residents and asked for work.

“In her statement,Gaikwad said,after fixing the salary,she used to offer to work there for a day to know about her duties. The residents used to agree and let her work. They would demand a photo and identity proof from her and the next day she would report for work,” said Assistant Inspector Ravindran Patil of Oshiwara police station.

According to Patil,on the first day itself,Gaikwad would steal anything she found in the house and flee. She would then allegedly approach the local jewellers in her locality and mortgage the ornaments,never returning again. “She used to spend the money she got on her several boyfriends,” claimed Patil.

Police secured the CCTV footage of Gaikwad allegedly exiting the building at Lokhandwala where the complainant in the latest case,Shaikh,stayed. Police then checked the previous criminal records and found that Gaikwad was earlier arrested by the Santacruz police.

The officers then alerted their informers who told them that Gaikwad was a resident of Chembur,following which she was arrested on Saturday.

“We have found that Gaikwad has 13 cases registered against her in Santacruz,Tardeo,Chembur and Juhu areas. We have recovered Rs 5 lakh from her and are now investigating whether her boyfriends were involved in the crimes. The two complainants have identified Gaikwad,” added Patil.