Woman caught for serial thefts across Ahmedabad, gold worth ₹3 lakh recovered

Naroda police have arrested a 45-year-old woman for allegedly stealing gold ornaments from jewellery shops across Naroda, Odhav and Sabarmati areas of Ahmedabad, solving four theft cases and recovering gold valuables worth ₹2.90 lakh.

According to police, the accused was identified as Pravinaben alias Tini Solanki, residing in Kishanwadi, Vadodara. She is a native of Ambaliyala village in Thasra taluka of Kheda district.

The case came to light after a complaint was registered at Naroda police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the theft of a gold watch from a jewellery shop near the Naroda crematorium crossroads. Based on specific information received by the police team, the woman, who was reportedly wearing a purple dress at the time, was detained and questioned.

During sustained interrogation, the accused confessed to her involvement in multiple thefts carried out over the past few months. Police subsequently recovered four stolen gold items, including two gold bars and two gold ornaments, with a total value estimated at ₹2.90 lakh

Investigators said the accused followed a consistent modus operandi, posing as a customer and asking to examine gold watches or ornaments at jewellery shops. She would allegedly switch the genuine item with a fake or imitation piece she carried, and leave the shop unnoticed.

Police confirmed that the arrest led to the detection of four cases registered at Naroda, Odhav and Sabarmati police stations under relevant sections of the BNS. Officials also revealed that the woman has an extensive criminal history, with several cases of cheating and theft previously registered against her in Vadodara, Kheda and Ahmedabad districts.