Mumbai, June 03: A businessman from Malad fell for one of the oldest con tricks in the book.
Two men stole valuables worth Rs1.26 lakh from Viral Doshi’s car outside Shoppers Stop in Kandivli (West) on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, Doshi was supposed to meet one of his suppliers near the store at 1pm.
“Doshi reached a little early. He was sitting in his car waiting for the supplier, who lives in a building adjacent to the store,” said S Ghatge, senior inspector, Kandivli police station.
“Suddenly a man knocked on his window. When Doshi rolled down the window, the man told him that he had dropped money on the road. When Doshi opened the door to check, he saw five Rs10 notes lying on the ground a little away from his car.”
When Doshi started to pick up the money, the man pretend to help him. In the meantime, another man opened the back door and stole a laptop, Rs40,000 and four mobile phones kept in the car, Ghatge said.
“When Doshi returned to the car, he saw the backseat door open and all his valuables missing. He turned to nab the man who had fooled him and he saw the duo running and crossing the road. He raised an alarm, but they managed to escape,” said Ghatge.
Doshi then filed a theft complaint with the Kandivli police. The police have questioned a few eyewitnesses, but are still to get any clues. “We are trying to get more details about the thieves and find out whether they operate in the area,” said a police officer on condition of anonymity.
Ghatge, however, said that vehicle owners need to be more careful. “This is a common modus operandi of thieves. Don’t leave your car when a stranger approaches you saying that you have dropped money or other valuables on the road. For a few rupees, you won’t end up losing expensive valuables,” he said.
—-Agencies