2 minors held for stealing food from rationing shop

Two minors, hit by poverty, were arrested on Friday for breaking into rationing shops to steal food, said the police.

Two minors, hit by poverty, were arrested on Friday for breaking into rationing shops to steal food, said the police.

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The accused are residents of a slum at Kurla (West). Their arrest came a day after the owner of Jai Jagdambe Stores, a rationing shop, lodged a complaint with the police.

When complainant Arudsingh Brijsingh, 42, reached his shop on Thursday, he realised that a large amount of wheat, rice, flour and oil was missing. His shop had also been ransacked. He immediately approached the police.

The police had earlier arrested one of the accused for a similar offence. “We laid a trap and arrested the duo from near their residence. They have admitted to theft. We have sent them to Dongri Children’s Home,” said Arun Aigal, senior police inspector of Vinobha Bhave Nagar police station.

The police said the main accused, who is 15 years old would always change his partners to ensure he was not caught.

He would make meals from the stolen food items and distribute it amongst his friends. The duo’s parents, the police said.