A 28-year-old chartered accountant in Mumbai fell victim to theft and lost a staggering ₹ 6.72 lakh after his credit and debit cards were stolen while he was engrossed in a game of cricket at Cross Maidan in south Mumbai, as reported by the police on Tuesday.
According to police officials, based on a complaint lodged by the victim, Vivek Dave, a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act at Azad Maidan police station for the incident that occurred on March 30.
The sequence of events unfolded when Mr. Dave arrived at Cross Maidan to play cricket. After changing into his cricket gear, he left his belongings, including his wallet containing credit and debit cards, along with his mobile phone, in a bag, as per the complaint.
It was only later, while on his way back home to Borivali on a train, that Mr. Dave noticed alarming bank transaction messages on his mobile phone. The messages revealed that approximately ₹ 1 lakh had been debited from his bank account, along with purchases exceeding ₹ 5 lakh made using his credit card, police sources revealed.
The first information report indicates that during the three hours Mr. Dave was engrossed in the cricket match, unidentified individuals stole his credit and debit cards. The perpetrators then swiftly withdrew ₹ 1 lakh cash from an ATM and embarked on a shopping spree, making purchases at four different jewellery stores.
Upon realizing the theft, Mr. Dave took action and contacted one of the jewellery shops where the culprits had used his card for purchase. The shop owner promptly shared CCTV footage capturing the suspects in the act, aiding in the investigation, according to police reports.
Presently, authorities are diligently working to identify the accused individuals involved in the theft, the police official added. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the theft and subsequent fraudulent transactions, which have left Mr. Dave in a significant financial loss.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal belongings, especially in crowded public places. The police are urging citizens to remain vigilant and cautious about their valuables to prevent falling victim to such thefts.