Woman arrested for pickpocketing gold from jewellery shops in Wardha, two cases solved
Local Crime Branch, Wardha arrests a woman accused of stealing gold ornaments from two jewellery shops, recovering the stolen items.
A team from the Local Crime Branch, Wardha has arrested a habitual woman offender accused of stealing gold ornaments from jewellery shops in the Wardha city police station area by distracting shopkeepers. Police seized the stolen gold from the accused, solving two cases.
Two separate incidents of gold ornaments being stolen through sleight of hand occurred at two different jewellery shops in the Wardha city police station area, on September 12, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively. Cases were registered at Wardha city police station under Crime Numbers 1585/2026 and 1589/2026 under Section 303(2) of the BNS.
While the Local Crime Branch team was jointly investigating both cases, CCTV footage from the scene and technical information revealed that the suspected woman was in Hinganghat. The team immediately reached Hinganghat and, after gathering information, took the suspect, identified as Sheikh Rumana alias Shabana alias Muskan Sheikh Arif, aged 29, a resident of Sant Tukdoji Ward, Hinganghat, into custody from her home.
On thorough questioning, the woman confessed before witnesses that she had stolen gold through sleight of hand at two locations in Wardha city. She had pawned the stolen gold ornaments at jewellers' shops in Hinganghat, telling them that her daughter was ill and she urgently needed money for treatment. The police team, along with witnesses, went to the concerned jewellery shops and, as per the seizure memo, recovered the gold stolen by the accused. This included gold tops weighing 1.630 grams worth Rs 22,900, and gold tops weighing 2.620 grams worth Rs 36,800, together worth Rs 59,600.
The woman, along with the seized property, has been handed over to Wardha city police for further legal investigation. Wardha city police are investigating the case further.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Saurabhkumar Agrawal, Additional Superintendent of Police Sadashiv Waghmare and Local Crime Branch Police Inspector Vinod Chaudhary. Police Sub-Inspector Vijaysing Gomladu, police personnel Manoj Dhatrak, Mahadev Sanap, Harshal Sontakke, Abhishek Naik, Pallavi Bobde, the entire Local Crime Branch Wardha team, and Cyber Cell Wardha's Prateek Wandile played key roles. The Wardha police have appealed to citizens to take care of their jewellery and belongings and to immediately inform police of any suspicious activity.
