A man in Delhi has been arrested for a unique crime spree - stealing valuables from co-passengers on flights. Over a period of 110 days last year, the accused, Rajesh Kapoor, boarded a staggering 200 flights, traveling across the country to commit these thefts.
Kapoor targeted passengers who appeared to be complacent, often those taking connecting flights. While they were occupied with the boarding process or settling in, he would steal from their handbags stored in the overhead compartments. The stolen items reportedly included jewelry worth lakhs of rupees.
The elaborate scheme was finally unraveled after a passenger reported missing jewelry worth ₹7 lakh on a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi. Another complaint followed, this time from a US citizen who reported valuables worth a much higher ₹20 lakh stolen from their cabin baggage.
Police investigations included reviewing hours of CCTV footage from airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Amritsar. This eventually led them to Kapoor, who was arrested in Delhi's Paharganj area.
The case highlights the need for increased vigilance by passengers, especially when traveling with valuables. It also raises questions about potential security gaps that allowed Kapoor to operate for so long.