Malappuram: Thirur police have arrested a 19-year-old woman who targeted female passengers to steal money and wallets at railway stations and bus stands. The accused has been identified as Devika Sudheesh, a resident of Kuruppumpadi, Perumbavoor. According to police findings, the young woman took advantage of moments when passengers’ attention was diverted at crowded public transport hubs to commit thefts. The incident came to light after railway police spotted the woman under suspicious circumstances last night at Thirur railway station. Noticing her suspicious behavior, the railway police promptly informed Thirur police. Subsequently, police officials who arrived at the scene detained the woman and subjected her to thorough questioning. Following the interrogation, police recovered several wallets both from the bag in the woman’s possession and from the room where she resided. The investigation team’s preliminary conclusion is that these wallets were stolen from various locations. Efforts to identify the actual owners of the recovered wallets are currently underway. Police state that the heavy crowds at railway stations and bus stands served as an opportunity for the woman to carry out these thefts. The modus operandi involved seizing money and wallets from female passengers’ bags at times when their attention was distracted during travel. Meanwhile, police suspect that the woman may also be connected to a similar theft case that occurred in Ponnani, and they are examining information related to that incident. In addition, authorities are investigating whether she has links to similar thefts reported at other railway stations and bus stands within the district. The police are verifying if any complaints have been registered at various police stations regarding the recovered wallets. With more complainants expected to come forward, the investigation team hopes further details about the case will emerge. The arrested woman was produced before the Thirur court, which remanded her to the Kozhikode jail. Police investigations into the case are ongoing.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
