In a broad daylight theft of two televisions at Panigate, Vadodara police uncovered a shoplifting racket operated by a single family. The trio posed as customers, gained the trust of traders, and stole goods. Three individuals were arrested, and suspected stolen property worth Rs 4.70 lakh was recovered, linking the gang to multiple cases.
Theft of Televisions Leads to Breakthrough
On May 30, two television sets were stolen from an electronics shop in Rishi Park Society, Ganeshnagar. CCTV footage captured a man and a woman loading the televisions onto a two-wheeler and fleeing the scene. Using technical surveillance and local intelligence, Panigate police traced the suspects to a house in Gokulesh City near Shankarpura village in Waghodia.
Recovery of Stolen Items
Police seized suspected stolen items worth Rs 4.70 lakh, including ceiling fans, geysers, water pumps, batteries, irons, LED lights, mobile phones, edible oil tins, and four two-wheelers. The recovery also helped police detect a property-related offence registered at Makarpura police station.
Arrested Accused and Modus Operandi
The arrested accused are Piyush Raju Zala (38), Raju Ganpat Zala (66), and Monika Raju Zala (35). Investigators revealed that the trio used a simple but effective modus operandi: they visited shops as prospective buyers, engaged traders in conversation, and stole goods when shopkeepers or staff were distracted.
One such complaint was filed by Ramesh Pukhraj Mehta, owner of Heer Electrics in Tarsali. According to police, a man and woman visited the shop posing as customers interested in ceiling fans, geysers, and other electrical items. The next day, while the trader’s son fetched goods from the godown, the duo allegedly fled with eight ceiling fans and four fan blades. CCTV footage later showed them loading the goods onto an Activa scooter and escaping.
Links to Other Thefts
Police said the trio is also suspected of stealing three electric geysers and a water pump from another electrical and hardware store in Tarsali using a similar method. Complaints linked to the gang have been registered at Panigate, Makarpura, and Kapurai police stations.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators are verifying the ownership of the recovered goods and probing whether the trio was involved in more such offences. Police records show that some of the accused had previously been booked in cheating cases in 2019.
