Thane Police Crack Down on Senior Citizen Robbery Ring, Arrest Four
In a significant breakthrough, the Thane Crime Branch Unit 4, operating from Ulhasnagar, has successfully apprehended three individuals and a jeweller, effectively solving a series of 12 cases involving fraud and robbery that specifically targeted senior citizens across Thane and Mumbai. The police operation led to the recovery of 130 grams of gold jewellery, with an estimated market value of Rs 16.99 lakh. Authorities have not disclosed the total monetary value of the gold and ornaments that were allegedly siphoned off by the accused.
Arrested Individuals and Their Roles
The arrested suspects have been identified as Raju Prakash Chavan, aged 48, from Wadala; Ramesh Vijaykumar Jaiswal, aged 49, from Chembur; and Sanjay Dattaram Mangde, aged 53, also from Chembur. Additionally, a fourth accused, Ramsingh Lalsingh Chauhan, aged 45, a jeweller from Wadala who originally hails from Rajasthan, was taken into custody. Chauhan is alleged to have played a crucial role in assisting the gang by receiving and disposing of the stolen ornaments, thereby facilitating their criminal activities.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
The gang specialised in a sophisticated method of robbing senior citizens through distraction and sleight of hand techniques. They would approach elderly individuals on public streets under the pretence of engaging in friendly conversation. Using persuasive speech and deceptive tactics, they managed to convince their targets to remove their gold chains or rings. Once the victims were distracted, the perpetrators would either swap the valuables with counterfeit items or simply flee with the genuine jewellery, leaving the elderly victims bewildered and victimised.
Police Investigation and Operation
Following a series of such incidents that were registered between November 2025 and January 2026, the Thane Police Commissioner, along with senior crime branch officials, initiated a special drive to tackle this menace. The investigative team employed a combination of advanced technical analysis, meticulous review of CCTV footage, and intelligence gathered from confidential informant networks to track down the suspects. This multi-faceted approach proved instrumental in identifying and apprehending the individuals involved.
Geographical Scope of Solved Cases
The solved cases spanned a wide geographical area, highlighting the extensive reach of the gang's operations. This included 3 incidents in Badlapur, along with multiple reports from Ulhasnagar, Mumbra, Naupada, Kalwa, Kopri, Kapurbawdi, and Goregaon in Mumbai. The widespread nature of these crimes underscores the need for heightened vigilance and coordinated law enforcement efforts across the region.
Leadership and Ongoing Investigation
This successful operation was conducted under the exemplary leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarsingh Jadhav and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shekhar Bagade. The field team was headed by Senior Police Inspector Yogesh Awhad, whose diligent efforts were pivotal in the crackdown. The accused are currently in police custody as authorities continue to investigate potential links to other similar crimes in the region, aiming to ensure that all involved parties are brought to justice and prevent future occurrences.
