In a detailed investigation spanning 12 days, the Mumbai Police have apprehended a 23-year-old science graduate for allegedly stealing cash, mobile phones, and gold ornaments valued at approximately Rs 1.63 lakh from the residence of a retired school teacher in the Andheri area.
The Crime and The Motive
The accused, identified as Ekta Anand, was arrested from her paying guest accommodation located in the Mhada building at Four Bungalows, Versova. Following her arrest, Anand reportedly told the police that she was compelled to turn to crime after her primary source of income dried up. She claimed that students stopped attending her dance classes due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 lockdown, leaving her without any earnings.
According to police officials, the incident occurred on May 29. Ekta Anand allegedly entered the flat of 62-year-old A. Rodrigues in Andheri (East) around 9 am. She reportedly knew the victim lived alone and managed to gain her trust using her command of the English language. The entire theft was executed within a span of three hours.
A Meticulous Investigation
To evade capture, the accused took several precautions. She covered her face with a mask and changed at least three auto-rickshaws to travel the 8-kilometer distance from the crime scene in Andheri (East) to her PG facility in Versova. However, the police team meticulously scanned footage from over 100 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area.
"We followed the CCTV footage and observed her changing auto-rickshaws. It took us 12 days to locate her whereabouts," stated a police officer involved in the case. The investigation ultimately led them to her PG accommodation, where they recovered the stolen gold ornaments and two mobile phones from her possession.
Confession and Background
During interrogation, Ekta Anand confessed to the police. She revealed that an earlier attempt to commit a similar offence had failed on May 23. She succeeded in her second attempt on May 29. Hailing from Bihar, Anand had migrated to Mumbai three years ago. Her brother is employed in Ranchi, while her father is a small-time businessman.
The arrest highlights how economic desperation during the pandemic pushed some individuals towards unlawful activities. The police have registered a case, and further legal proceedings are underway.
