Ludhiana police have arrested a Mohali man accused of orchestrating a series of 'washroom' heists, in which he tricked traders into transferring money to his account before escaping from their stores.
Arrest and Complaint
Sahil Makkar was taken into custody by Division Number 4 police following a complaint from garment trader Vikas Thapar. Authorities believe Makkar has targeted at least five other businesses using a similar modus operandi.
How the Fraud Worked
According to the police complaint, Makkar visited Thapar's ready-made clothing shop, selected several high-end items, and asked for them to be packed. He then allegedly convinced Thapar to transfer ₹12,000 to his bank account via a QR code, promising to pay the equivalent amount plus the cost of the clothes in cash immediately. After confirming the digital transfer, Makkar reportedly asked to use the washroom and fled the premises.
'I was left waiting with another man who had accompanied him to the shop,' Thapar said. 'When I questioned him, I was shocked to find he was simply a taxi driver hired for the day who didn't even know the suspect's name.'
Investigation and Charges
Station house officer (SHO) Jaspal Singh said Makkar had been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal breach of trust and cheating. 'At least five similar complaints have surfaced so far, suggesting a wider pattern of fraud,' he said.
A local court remanded Makkar to two days of police custody. Investigators are now working to determine if the suspect had accomplices or if additional traders in the market were victimised.
