Couple held for preying on bus passengers

Rajkot: Amreli police have arrested a husband-wife duo accused of targeting elderly women at state transport (ST) bus depots and stealing their valuables. The arrest came after a passenger boarding a bus at the Rajula depot lost a bag containing gold ornaments worth Rs 1 lakh on June 7.

The arrested couple were identified as Shambhu (21) and Gouri Parmar (26), both daily-wage labourers from Khartsura village.

Acting on the complaint, Rajula police used footage from the CCTV network set up under the “Eagle Eye Project” and traced the accused within hours of the theft.

According to police, the stolen items included a 14.9g gold chain worth Rs 1,00,800, a heart-shaped gold pendant valued at Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,200 in cash, taking the total value of the stolen property to about Rs 1.05 lakh.

Investigators examined footage from cameras at the bus depot and in nearby areas, which helped them identify a suspicious motorcycle and trace its registration number.

Police later intercepted the suspects on the road leading to a stone quarry behind Maruti Dham in Rajula. Police recovered the stolen gold chain, pendant and Rs 800 in cash from their possession.

Police said the couple followed a well-planned modus operandi. Shambhu would drop Gouri off near a bus station and wait at a distance on the motorcycle. Gouri would mingle with passengers and target elderly women boarding crowded buses. Taking advantage of the rush and confusion, she would allegedly steal their purses and valuables before fleeing and rejoining her husband, who would help her escape.

Police said the couple was scouting for another target in Rajula when they were arrested.

According to police records, both are repeat offenders. Gouri has four theft cases registered against her at Chalala, Mahuva and Rajula police stations, while Shambhu has three cases registered at Chalala and Khambha police stations. The couple also allegedly confessed to carrying out several similar thefts of women’s purses at the Una bus station over the past two to three months.