Woman steals Patola saris worth Rs 1.2 lakh at boutique opening in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: An unusual theft occurred when a 49-year-old woman allegedly slipped away with two expensive Patola saris, valued at Rs 1.2 lakh, during a boutique's opening in the Sola area of the city.
The event unfolded at the inauguration of a new sari showroom on Science City Road. While the visitors were admiring the handwoven fabrics, a woman from among the guests seized the opportunity of the crowded atmosphere. She quietly slipped two saris into her bag — a Patan Patola priced at Rs 90,000 and a Rajkot Patola worth Rs 30,000. It was as if she had planned the whole thing. She fled from the store on her scooter.
However, her moves were captured on the CCTV cameras installed in the store. After the store owner registered a theft complaint at Sola High Court police station, the cops located the woman and the scooter with the help of the CCTV footage. The stolen items and the vehicle were both retrieved within hours and the woman was arrested.
Patola saris, renowned for their heritage and intricate designs, require several months to be prepared. According to police officials, the prima facie motive appeared to be the woman's fondness for the saris, leading to an irresistible impulse to acquire them.
According to the police, the accused hails from an affluent background, with her husband operating a chain of medical stores in the Sola and Ghatlodia areas.
Inspector K N Bhukan of Sola police station, who solved the case, said, "It was not the case that she did not have money to buy the saris, but it seems to be a case of kleptomania where she stole the expensive saris on an impulse."
Ahmedabad: An unusual theft occurred when a 49-year-old woman allegedly slipped away with two expensive Patola saris, valued at Rs 1.2 lakh, during a boutique's opening in the Sola area of the city.
The event unfolded at the inauguration of a new sari showroom on Science City Road. While the visitors were admiring the handwoven fabrics, a woman from among the guests seized the opportunity of the crowded atmosphere. She quietly slipped two saris into her bag — a Patan Patola priced at Rs 90,000 and a Rajkot Patola worth Rs 30,000. It was as if she had planned the whole thing. She fled from the store on her scooter.
However, her moves were captured on the CCTV cameras installed in the store. After the store owner registered a theft complaint at Sola High Court police station, the cops located the woman and the scooter with the help of the CCTV footage. The stolen items and the vehicle were both retrieved within hours.
Patola saris, renowned for their heritage and intricate designs, require several months to be prepared. According to police officials, the prima facie motive appeared to be the woman's fondness for the saris, leading to an irresistible impulse to acquire them.
According to the police, the accused hails from an affluent background, with her husband operating a chain of medical stores in the Sola and Ghatlodia areas.
Inspector K N Bhukan of Sola police station, who solved the case, said, "It was not the case that she did not have money to buy the saris, but it seems to be a case of kleptomania where she stole the expensive saris on an impulse."