Delhi Police Nab Man for Jewellery Thefts Across 200 Flights

A 40-year-old man, identified as Rajesh Kapoor, has been apprehended by Delhi Police for allegedly pilfering jewellery and other valuables from the handbags of co-passengers aboard various flights. The arrest was made in Paharganj, where Kapoor purportedly stored the stolen items, planning to sell them to Sharad Jain, 46, who was also arrested in Karol Bagh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police IGI, Usha Rangnani, disclosed at a press conference held at the IGI airport that Kapoor had embarked on at least 200 flights over the past year, dedicating more than 110 days to his clandestine activities. The revelation came after two separate incidents of theft were reported on different flights in the last three months, prompting a dedicated team from IGI Airport to spring into action.

One incident involved a passenger losing jewellery valued at Rs 7 lakh on a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi on April 11. Another case saw a passenger deprived of jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh during a journey from Amritsar to Delhi on February 2. Investigations led to the analysis of CCTV footage from both Delhi and Amritsar airports and scrutiny of flight manifests, which identified Kapoor as a suspect present on both flights where thefts occurred.

Despite providing a fake phone number at the time of booking, Kapoor's original number was eventually traced through technical surveillance. Upon his arrest and subsequent interrogation, he admitted to involvement in five such cases, including one in Hyderabad. It was revealed that he squandered most of the stolen cash on gambling activities.

Kapoor's criminal activities spanned across 11 cases, including theft, gambling, and criminal breach of trust, with five cases directly linked to airport thefts. He reportedly targeted vulnerable passengers, especially elderly women on international flights, exploiting the boarding chaos to rummage through overhead cabins and pilfer valuables from handbags.

His operations were meticulously planned to coincide with the distractions during boarding, allowing him to remain undetected. In some instances, Kapoor even managed to change his seat through the airline to be closer to his targets. To avoid detection and shield his identity from both airlines and law enforcement agencies, he booked tickets under his deceased brother's name.

This case highlights the importance of vigilance while travelling and the lengths to which individuals may go to commit theft. The police's diligent work in using technology and surveillance to catch Kapoor underscores their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of passengers.