Mokokchung, December 10 (MExN): The arrest of a “habitual masked thief” by the Mokokchung Police has drawn appreciation from the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
The MCCI, in a press release, informed that Mokokchung police personnel arrested the “dreaded masked habitual thief,” on December 9.
The individual, identified as Imnawapang Jamir, was held from Mokokchung town Daily Market area at around 5:00 pm after specific information provided by MCCI, it informed.
The MCCI stated that his “criminal deeds have been a cause of great concern for the business community of Mokokchung and that several traders have been victimized by the culprit since last month, rendering huge financial losses to the victims and causing insecurity, mental trauma and distress.”
The MCCI meanwhile urged against granting bail to the accused and cautioned in the event this happens, the organization would “be compelled to make its stand in ways it deems fit.” The MCCI also demanded immediate compensation for the victims.
Modus operandi
As per the MCCI, the culprit has been stealing a range of commodities worth about Rs 2,00,000 since November 3 from at least 7 shops on different days.
Taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the SOPs, the culprit employed an unassumingly subtle yet highly proficient modus operandi to prey on his victims, the MCCI said.
The thief would appear at his targeted store with a visible shopping list, wearing a face mask and hoodie and would politely interact with the salesmen in the most courteous manner, effectively deceiving them without revealing his identity but at the same time winning their confidence.
He would then ask the cashier to prepare the bill to make his payment while convincing the unsuspecting salesmen to load his supplies to his vehicle, which was often a hired taxi parked strategically at a safe distance. Then, on the pretext of drawing cash from a nearby ATM, he would leave the shop and calmly drive away without making any scene, all along keeping his taxi driver unawares.
When reports of these thefts were brought to the notice of MCCI, a scheme was laid to ensnare the culprit. MCCI informed the police after which he was promptly arrested. He is now under police custody at Police Station-1, Mokokchung, the MCCI informed.
