Female techie turns thief: Former bank employee arrested for stealing laptops in Bengaluru

In a startling turn of events, a 29-year-old B.Tech graduate from Rajasthan, identified as Jassi Agarwal/ Jasu , has been apprehended by the HAL police in Bengaluru for her involvement in a string of laptop thefts from paying guest accommodations (PGs) and software firms across the city. The arrest follows a complaint lodged by a PG resident, leading to a meticulous investigation aided by CCTV footage and digital evidence.

The Commissioner said that Agarwal, a B Tech graduate, was previously working in a private bank in Noida. She left her job due to a low salary and came to Bengaluru but did not get a job despite interviewing in various companies, the Commissioner said

According to police reports, Agarwal, a former employee of a private bank, abandoned her job approximately a year ago to pursue a career as a full-time thief. 

City Police Commissioner B Dayananda in a statement on Tuesday (March 26) said that they arrested Jasu (29) and recovered 24 laptops worth Rs 10 lakh from her possession.

Employing a cunning modus operandi, she targeted her fellow PG residents, waiting for opportune moments when they were away, and swiftly made away with their valuable laptops. 

The accused would then retreat to her hometown in Noida, where she sold the stolen laptops before returning to Bengaluru to repeat the cycle in different PG accommodations. Her audacious scheme yielded a total haul of 24 laptops, valued at ₹10 lakh, from various locations across Bengaluru.

“As the number of laptop thefts gradually increased, she came to the city by plane and stayed temporarily in a PG and used to steal laptops. Based on a complaint, the police arrested the accused near Hunasamaranahalli and produced her before the court,” he said. The City Police Commissioner said that the accused is wanted in four cases registered in Koramangala, Indira Nagar, and HAL police stations

Her arrest on March 26 came as a result of a complaint filed by a resident of her current PG, prompting law enforcement to take swift action. Agarwal’s calculated exploitation of her living situations and her former profession to perpetrate theft highlights the need for heightened vigilance and security measures, particularly in shared living spaces.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go in pursuit of ill-gotten gains and underscores the importance of community awareness and cooperation in thwarting criminal activities. As investigations continue, authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly to prevent similar incidents in the future.