In a dramatic breakthrough, Delhi Police arrested on Sunday a 24-year-old burglar, who had been on the run for almost a fortnight after allegedly committing a house theft in Mohan Garden. What has given this otherwise routine case an element of sensationalism is the repeated use of female attire and accessories by the accused in order to deceive the CCTV cameras and evade police surveillance.
The arrested suspect, Amit Kumar, had allegedly disguised himself as a woman, which included wearing a saree, wig, makeup, and even a feminine gait, while committing the burglary and its aftermath. The incident had initially puzzled investigators when CCTV footage on November 22 showed a “woman” entering and then exiting the targeted house in the early hours of the morning.
However, anomalies within the physical movement and body structure raised suspicions among officers who began analyzing the footage frame by frame. “The breakthrough came when detectives zoomed into the footage and noticed the suspect’s unusually stiff shoulders and foot movement,” revealed a senior police official. “He tried to mimic a woman’s body language, but the gait gave him away,” the officer said.
How the Crime Happened
Police said that the theft took place when the family had gone out to attend a wedding. The accused broke into the house by forcing open the back door, the police added. He then spent close to 40 minutes ransacking wardrobes, drawers and storage trunks. The loot consisted of cash, gold jewellery and high-value electronic gadgets.
Days before the incident, Amit had done meticulous recce in the locality, police said. “He had monitored entry points, escape routes, and even the family’s schedule,” the official added. The disguise was part of his plan from the beginning, aimed at blending into the crowd and avoiding immediate suspicion.
14-Day Manhunt
Following the discovery of burglary, police launched an extensive search for the suspect after forming several teams comprising officials from Uttam Nagar police station. Over a dozen CCTV cameras installed in the area were scoured, while several local informers were activated.
In some of the footage, Amit’s face was partially visible despite his disguise. Already, this meant that investigators could generate a rough profile to match up with their database of known offenders. Days later, the police had narrowed down the list to just a few suspects with prior records involving break-ins.
The break in the case finally came when police tracked down the suspect’s movements to a rented room in Najafgarh. A police team that reached the site found an assortment of wigs, sarees, bangles, cosmetics, and even padded clothes, used by the accused while committing thefts across the city.
Amit first tried to escape by disguising himself as a woman again but was caught by officers before he could get away. “He was so committed to the disguise that he tried to maintain it even during the arrest,” said a police officer.
Recovered Items and Further Investigations
The accused, during interrogation, confessed to the Mohan Garden theft and several other similar break-ins across West Delhi. Police recovered gold jewellery worth several lakhs, a few mobile phones, cash, and housebreaking tools.
The investigators are now verifying his involvement in at least five more theft cases where CCTV had captured a ‘woman suspect’ earlier. Most of these cases had remained unsolved because of the clever use of disguise.
Police Perspective: A Case of “Over-Prepared Criminal”
Senior police officers termed the accused “over-prepared” and ultra-cautious. His modus operandi in crime included conducting prolonged surveillance of houses, using disguises, and changing his hideouts frequently. “This is not a casual thief. He planned every step and was attempting to build a criminal career based on deception,” said an officer associated with the case.
The police also said that such disguises — especially cross-dressing — are becoming common in theft and drug-peddling operations. Criminals use them to confuse security guards, CCTV operators, and residents who are less likely to suspect women.
Residents demand more surveillance.
The arrest has raised alarms among Mohan Garden residents, many of whom are now demanding better CCTV coverage, night-patrolling, and more stringent verification mechanism for tenants. RWAs in the area have also appealed to neighbours to put in place modern smart-security systems and avoid keeping large amounts of jewellery or cash at home. Case Registered A case under sections relating to theft, criminal trespass, and housebreaking has been registered. The accused is currently in police custody and further investigation is under process.
