Special Correspondent
Pune: A 73-year-old businesswoman was allegedly tricked by two unknown individuals in Hadapsar’s Gandhi market area, who lured her with promises of free food grains and groceries before robbing her of gold ornaments worth Rs 75,000.
The incident occurred on Friday around noon when Shakuntala Sasane, a resident of Hadapsar who runs a general store near Pune Municipal Corporation School No. 35, was approached by two men. The suspects, aged between 30 and 40 years, claimed to be part of an organization distributing free groceries and grains to senior citizens. They gained Sasane’s trust by saying their employer was looking for elderly people in need of help.
Once they had her attention, the men reportedly told Sasane that her gold jewelry would prevent her from receiving the free groceries. They persuaded her to remove her gold earrings, nose pin, and chains and place them in a bag. The thieves then stole the bag containing the jewelry and cash and fled the scene.
According to PSI Mahesh Kawale, who is investigating the case, the suspects used deceptive tactics to target elderly women. “We are working with CCTV footage and other sources to track down the suspects,” said Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Mogale. “We also urge citizens to be cautious and avoid falling victim to such scams.”
This robbery is part of a troubling trend in the city, with several similar incidents reported in recent months, where elderly women are duped with offers of free goods, only to have their jewelry stolen.
