In a shocking incident from Vadodara, a woman found herself trapped in her own bathroom while a burglary unfolded in her bedroom. The perpetrator, as it turned out, was her immediate neighbour, who executed a meticulously planned theft out of sheer desperation.
The Tidy Bedroom Turned Crime Scene
On Tuesday, Meenakshi Rajput stepped out of the bathroom in her Tarsali home only to be met with a scene of utter disarray. Her usually orderly bedroom had been ransacked. Cupboard doors were flung open, her locker was ajar, and precious jewellery along with cash, collectively valued at Rs 3 lakh, were missing. Realising she had been burgled, Rajput immediately raised an alarm and filed a formal complaint at the Makarpura police station.
A Neighbour's Desperate Plot Unveiled
The investigation took a dramatic turn on Thursday when the police made an arrest. The suspect was none other than Rajput's 32-year-old neighbour, Neetu Shah. A mother of two, Shah was reportedly grappling with severe financial difficulties. Having been employed earlier, she had been struggling to make ends meet over the past few months, which allegedly drove her to plan the burglary.
According to police officials, this was no crime of opportunity. "It was a meticulously planned burglary. Shah had been waiting for the right moment to target the flat located directly above hers. She had carefully monitored Rajput's daily routine," revealed an officer.
How the Burglary Was Executed
Crime branch inspector R G Jadeja provided chilling details of the method. Shah, familiar with Rajput's habits, knew precisely when she took her bath, how long she stayed inside, and crucially, that she did not lock the main door from the inside.
"Three days ago, after Rajput entered the bathroom, Shah quietly slipped into the house. The first thing she did was latch the bathroom door from outside so Rajput couldn't come out," Inspector Jadeja explained. With the homeowner locked in, Shah proceeded to the unlocked cupboard locker, stole gold and silver jewellery, and made her escape.
Trapped inside, Rajput eventually managed to force the bathroom door open and discovered the theft. During the probe, police suspected an insider's involvement due to the precise knowledge of the routine. "The complainant expressed suspicion about Shah. When questioned, Shah initially hesitated but eventually confessed. We have recovered all the stolen jewellery," Jadeja confirmed.
Aftermath and Recovery
The case highlights a disturbing breach of trust within a residential community. While the stolen valuables have been recovered, the psychological impact on the victim, who was deliberately trapped in her own home, is significant. The arrest of Neetu Shah underscores how severe financial distress can sometimes lead to extreme criminal actions, even by those living in closest proximity.
