In a case of breach of trust, a 27-year-old woman working as a domestic help was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly stealing gold and silver jewellery valued at several lakh rupees from her former employer's residence in the Bindapur area.
Theft of Ancestral Jewellery Uncovered
The incident came to light when the employer, a resident of Bal Udyan Road in Bindapur, filed a police complaint. She reported that her precious ancestral jewellery had gone missing between December 7 and 13, a period when she and her family were out of town. Following the complaint, a formal case was registered under Section 305 (theft in a dwelling house) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Bindapur police station.
Police Investigation Points to an Insider
Investigating officers found no evidence of a break-in or forced entry at the house, immediately raising suspicions of an insider's involvement. Scrutiny of CCTV footage from the locality proved crucial. The footage captured a masked woman entering the house on December 12 and exiting within a short span of 15 minutes.
"Technical surveillance revealed that the accused switched off her earlier mobile phone and started using a new number. Based on her movement pattern, multiple raids were conducted before she was finally located at her rented flat in Janakpuri," stated DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh.
Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Items
Through detailed analysis of her movements, police traced the suspect to Janakpuri. The complainant identified the woman in the footage as Bharti, her former domestic help. Police teams raided Bharti's rented accommodation in Janakpuri, where she was allegedly packing her belongings in preparation to flee. She was promptly arrested.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of the stolen jewellery, which included:
- A gold chain
- Earrings
- A ring
- A locket
- Silver payal (anklets)
- Toe rings
During interrogation, Bharti confessed to the crime. She revealed that she had sold a portion of the stolen jewellery for approximately Rs 3.8 lakh, which she then deposited into her bank account. Police confirmed she had no prior criminal record.
Motive and Method of the Crime
The accused disclosed her motive to the police, stating that she committed the theft to gather funds to purchase a small flat for herself and her child. Her method involved planning during her employment at the victim's house. She allegedly duplicated the house keys while working as a maid, which she later used to gain access and execute the theft in the family's absence.
The swift action by the Dwarka district police, combining CCTV evidence and technical surveillance, led to the arrest and recovery of the stolen valuables, highlighting the risks associated with insider access to homes.
