The Lala family believes it was Lord Ganesh’s blessings that saved their house from being burgled early on Wednesday morning.
A group of youths sitting a Ganesh pandal nearby assisted the police in foiling an attempt at breaking into the Lalas’ house in Dahisar. Police said had the youths not been vigilant, the thieves would have easily made off with the Lalas’ valuables.
Police said that at 3.45 am, Umesh Giri (22) and two others sneaked onto the first floor of Riddhi Siddhi building at Shailendra Nagar, Dahisar (East). The owner of the house, Mithu Lala (75) and his 70-year-old wife, were at their son Naresh’s (45) house in Oshiwara.
As the trio used a hammer to break the lock, the noise caught the attention of the youths. “Sensing foul play, they went upstairs to investigate. On seeing the trio, they raised an alarm and informed us,” said Senior Police Inspector Parshuram Kakad.
The police managed to arrest Giri, while the two others managed to get away.
Giri said his friend Sajan, a former watchman at the building, was the mastermind. Sajan had been dismissed after complaints from residents and he planned the theft to take revenge.
“My mother had fractured her hand and was being treated at an Andheri hospital. Since commuting to Andheri and back would have been tough, they decided to stay at my brother’s house. They have been there since September 1,” said Manisha Makhija, the Lalas’ daughter.
{{/usCountry}}“My mother had fractured her hand and was being treated at an Andheri hospital. Since commuting to Andheri and back would have been tough, they decided to stay at my brother’s house. They have been there since September 1,” said Manisha Makhija, the Lalas’ daughter.
{{/usCountry}}Mithu, a retired railway ticket inspector, said he was informed of the incident by the society secretary. “That’s when I rushed to Dahisar,” he said.
The police are looking for Giri’s accomplices.