A 34 years old woman has been arrested in Mumbai for her role in a series of pickpocketing and jewellery thefts at various railway stations across the city. Laxmi Vinod Solanki, a resident of Malkaganj in New Delhi, cleverly masked her criminal activity by posing as a tourist on holiday with her husband. Police revealed that she would visit Mumbai under the pretext of vacationing with her husband, stay in a hotel for a few days and carry out thefts during peak hours before quietly returning to Delhi.
Laxmi’s husband Vinod Solanki who works in a private company was reportedly unaware of her involvement in these crimes. According to the police, she convinced him that the trips were for leisure and he was shocked upon learning of her arrest.
The investigation began when a garment trader from Borivali, Mohanlal Shivlal Rajpurohit, reported a theft involving his wife. His wife Mamta was boarding a train from Borivali to their village via Vasai Road and was carrying gold jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh in her handbag. The jewellery included a gold chain, mangalsutra and earrings. While boarding, Laxmi exploited the crowded platform to open Mamta’s bag and steal the valuables. The act was captured by CCTV cameras at the station and the couple lodged a complaint with the Vasai Road GRP after Mamta discovered the loss.
Police traced Laxmi’s stay to a hotel in Borivali where she had checked in with her husband. After committing the theft, the couple returned to Delhi, raising suspicions. However, her luck ran out when she returned to Mumbai and stayed at the same hotel. Recognising her, the hotel staff quickly alerted the police. Laxmi was caught red-handed by the Bandra Railway Crime Unit while attempting another theft at Borivali station.
Upon questioning, Laxmi’s husband maintained that he had no knowledge of her illegal activities and believed their Mumbai trips were simply vacations. He told the police that she would often take him to tourist spots but later make excuses to leave him behind at the hotel while she carried out her thefts.
Further investigations revealed that Laxmi had a history with the authorities. She is already wanted in connection with a pickpocketing case filed in July 2024 by the Borivali GRP. The Bandra Railway Crime Unit has now informed them and she will soon be handed over to their custody. Officials have also recovered some of the stolen jewellery from her home in Delhi.
Police believe Borivali station was a frequent target for Laxmi due to its large crowds and the number of long-distance trains that operate there. During interrogation, Laxmi confessed to stealing from multiple passengers at the station over time. Her strategy involved blending in as a tourist and using her husband’s presence to deflect suspicion while she committed thefts.
