Bhayandar: While attending marriage ceremonies, the hosts have a reason to remain more cautious while dealing with any extra-friendly but unknown guest, for she or he might be a smartly dressed thief in disguise waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Sleuths of the Thane (rural) police are on the lookout of a gang of thieves who targeted people at wedding and reception ceremonies in and around the region.
The gang had recently struck at a swanky banquet hall in Mira Road and decamped with the hand bag belonging to the groom’s mother containing cash and valuables worth more than Rs 93,000. The entire sequence of events which has been captured by the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras clearly shows two stylishly dressed men who immediately after elegantly walking into the venue get busy in identifying close relatives of the bride and groom in possession of the cash and jewellery bag.
A moment of distraction was all that was necessary for the duo who seem to be well-versed in etiquettes required to fit in at high-profile gatherings to swoop down on the bag, pick it up and walk out of the hall to a car waiting outside. The registration number of the car in which the duo zoomed away is not visible, however, we are scanning footages procured from CCTVs on the possible getaway routes to identify the vehicle and get other possible clues,” said an investigating officer.
Following a complaint by the groom’s family, the Kashimira police have registered a case under sections 379 of the IPC against unidentified people. However, similar cases during wedding seasons in the past have remained undetected, sources said.
