In a brazen daylight theft in Ahmedabad, a bank employee suffered a significant financial loss after criminals stole her purse from a parked two-wheeler and proceeded to withdraw a large sum using her ATM cards. The incident, which occurred in the Vejalpur area, has prompted a police investigation as the total loss mounted to a staggering seventy-five thousand rupees.
The Incident: A Stolen Purse Leads to Major Financial Loss
The complainant, who works as a clerk at a nationalised bank branch located on SP Ring Road, is a resident of Vejalpur. According to her police complaint registered on Friday, the sequence of events began on November 12. After returning home from work, she rode her scooter to a garden near Makarba for an evening walk.
Upon arrival, she parked her vehicle outside the garden. She retrieved her mobile phone from the storage compartment under the seat but inadvertently left her purse inside. The situation turned alarming when, around 6:55 PM, she visited a photocopy shop near the Vejalpur police chowki. It was then she discovered the compartment open and her purse missing.
Contents Stolen and Unauthorised ATM Withdrawals
The stolen purse contained far more than just cash. The items inside included:
- Approximately Rs 10,000 in cash.
- ATM cards from two different nationalised banks.
- Crucial identity documents: her Aadhaar card, PAN card, driver's licence, and election card.
- Her scooter's Registration Certificate (RC) book.
- Various membership cards issued by her bank.
The real financial blow, however, came to light after the victim contacted her banks for verification. The thieves had not only taken the cash but had also used the stolen ATM cards to make unauthorized withdrawals. They successfully took out Rs 25,000 from one bank and Rs 40,000 from the other. This brought the total monetary loss from the incident to Rs 75,000.
Police Investigation and Search for Accused
Following the formal complaint, the police have launched a search operation to identify and apprehend the thieves. The investigation is currently focused on two key sources of evidence. Authorities are meticulously examining CCTV footage from the vicinity of the garden and the photocopy shop to spot the culprits.
Simultaneously, the bank transaction records from the ATMs used for the illegal withdrawals are being analysed. These records could provide crucial clues about the location, time, and potentially even visuals of the individuals who carried out the transactions. The combination of these investigative avenues is expected to aid the Vejalpur police in cracking the case swiftly.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for citizens, especially in urban areas, to exercise extreme caution with their belongings. Leaving valuables in vehicle compartments, even for a short duration, can have severe consequences. The Ahmedabad police are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
