Vadodara: Two women from Maharashtra, allegedly part of an inter-state gang that targeted unlocked houses in Vadodara, have been arrested by the city crime branch, leading to the detection of three house theft cases and recovery of stolen property worth Rs 1.38 lakh.The accused, identified as Akila Pawar and Lili Pawar, both residents of Palghar district in Maharashtra, were apprehended near Golden Bridge following a tip-off that members of a woman theft gang were in the city with stolen valuables.During the operation, crime branch officials recovered five mobile phones, nine silver coins, two silver glasses and cash from the duo. As the women failed to provide satisfactory proof of ownership of the valuables, police detained them and initiated an investigation.Interrogation allegedly revealed their involvement in multiple thefts across the city. Police said Akila and her associates stole gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 49,950 from a house in Patni Mohalla near Raopura Tower on May 13.Investigators also linked the gang to a theft at Nand Vihar Flats on Dabhoi Road on May 14, where two mobile phones and cash worth Rs 9,500 were stolen.In another case, Lili and her accomplices were allegedly involved in a theft at a residence in Amdawadi Pol, Kadva Sheri, from where cash worth Rs 5 lakh and a laptop were stolen. The total value of the stolen property in that case was estimated at Rs 5.8 lakh.According to police, the accused, along with relatives and associates, would travel from Maharashtra to Vadodara and camp near highway bridges before splitting into smaller groups during the morning hours. The gang allegedly targeted houses that were unlocked or inadequately secured, stealing jewellery, cash, laptops and mobile phones.Crime Branch officials said the arrests helped detect three previously registered house-breaking offences, including two cases registered at Karelibaug police station and one at Kapurai police station. Further investigation is underway to trace other members of the gang.The accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 305(a) pertaining to theft in a dwelling house, Sections 331(1) and 331(3) dealing with lurking house trespass and house-breaking, and Section 303(2) relating to theft of movable property.Crime Branch officials are now investigating whether the accused were involved in other unsolved offences in Vadodara and neighbouring districts.
