A 32-year-old woman named Priya Sharma from Pune’s Kondhwa area has been arrested for stealing jewelry worth ₹4.2 lakhs (around $5,100 USD). She took the jewelry from different homes between March and June 2023.
Priya would make friends with middle-aged women living alone in fancy buildings and trick them by putting medicine in their drinks to make them sleepy. Priya used social media, like Facebook and Instagram, to connect with these women. She pretended to be a jewelry designer looking for business opportunities.
Police say she stole jewelry seven times in different neighborhoods, taking things like gold necklaces, diamond rings, and beautiful bangles. The police found out about her when one woman, Mrs. Anjali Patil, felt very sleepy after having tea with Priya.
Doctors found medicine in her blood, which led the police to investigate and catch Priya on June 28, 2023. They were able to recover 72% of the stolen jewelry from shops that buy old jewelry in Maharashtra.
When the police looked into Priya’s activities, they found notes where she wrote down details about the stolen jewelry, like their weight and value. This wasn’t her first time in trouble; she’d been in jail for 18 months in 2019 for doing similar things in Mumbai.
The police have charged Priya with serious crimes, including using poison to hurt someone, stealing, and cheating. If she’s found guilty, she could go to prison for up to ten years. The police have gathered strong evidence, like video footage and witness statements, to support their case.
Officials are telling people to be careful when inviting strangers into their homes, especially those who reach out through social media. They’re also running a campaign to help people understand the importance of being careful and checking who they’re talking to online.
