Jaipur: City police Sunday arrested a 38-year-old woman for leading a gang that systematically targeted jewellery shops, slipping away with ornaments while posing as customers and holding shopkeepers in distracting conversation.The accused was identified as Neeru Bagri. “After CCTV footage from the crime scene helped investigators zero in on her movements, two other women linked to the gang are absconding, and search operations are underway to track them down,” said an official.The gang struck on Jan 3 at Shyam Jewellers in Jagatpura market.Police said three women entered the shop as customers and began examining jewellery, engaging the jeweller in sustained conversation. In the distraction, 1 of them lifted a tray of silver anklets from the counter and concealed it before the group walked out.The theft surfaced shortly after, when the shop staff checked the display and found the tray missing. The jeweller’s son then filed a complaint at Airport police station, triggering an investigation.Police scanned CCTV footage from the shop and surrounding market lanes, traced the suspects’ movements, and identified one of the women. Acting on technical inputs and surveillance, a police team tracked her to Kota and carried out a raid, leading to her arrest.During the arrest, police recovered six silver anklets allegedly stolen from the shop.DCP (East) Sanjeev Nain said the accused admitted during interrogation that she formed a gang of women, including her relatives Mausam and Guddi, to carry out jewellery thefts. The gang relied on conversation and crowding to divert shopkeepers while valuables were removed, he said.Police said the accused confessed to committing similar thefts across several states and within Jaipur, including areas under Airport, Pratap Nagar and Jhotwara police stations. She also admitted that she and other gang members were arrested and jailed multiple times earlier in theft cases.Investigators said the accused told them the gang travelled frequently between cities and carried out thefts to run household expenses and fund her interest in travelling. Further investigation is in progress.
