In Sky robbery! Man boarded 200 flights in 110 days to steal jewellery worth lakhs from passengers

• Image Credit: Google

• May 14, 2024 | Pinaki Goswami

The arrest highlights the importance of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and aviation authorities to ensure passenger safety...

Digital Desk: The Delhi Police have apprehended a 40-year-old man, Rajesh Kapoor, in connection with a string of in-flight robberies, marking the end of a high-flying crime spree that spanned over 200 flights in the past year. Kapoor's modus operandi involved pilfering jewellery and valuables from unsuspecting co-passengers handbags during the chaos of boarding.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani revealed that Kapoor, who spent more than 110 days in the air, was nabbed from Paharganj, along with his intended buyer, Sharad Jain, 46, arrested from Karol Bagh. The arrest followed two separate theft incidents on flights, triggering the formation of a specialized team from the IGI Airport to apprehend the culprits.

In one instance, a passenger lost jewellery worth Rs 7 lakh during a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi on April 11, leading to Kapoor and Jain's swift capture. Another theft, reported on February 2, involved jewellery items valued at Rs 20 lakh, prompting a thorough investigation.

CCTV footage from Delhi and Amritsar airports, along with flight manifests, played a pivotal role in identifying Kapoor as the prime suspect. Despite providing a fake phone number at the time of booking, technical surveillance eventually traced Kapoor through his original phone number.

Kapoor's shrewd strategy included changing seats to position himself near his target, exploiting the commotion of boarding to discreetly sift through overhead cabins. His method, meticulously timed to coincide with distractions, allowed him to operate unnoticed. To further evade detection, Kapoor resorted to booking tickets under his deceased brother’s name, masking his identity from airlines and law enforcement.

The arrest highlights the importance of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and aviation authorities to ensure passenger safety and uphold the integrity of air travel. As air travel resumes post-pandemic, this case serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against such opportunistic crimes.