Thief locks self in room, jumps out of window into cops’ arms

A thief who was spotted by the owner while attempting to rob a single-storeyed structure in Ghatkopar, locked himself on the mezzanine floor of the building today morning, reports Pratik Salunke.

A thief who was spotted by the owner while attempting to rob a single-storeyed structure in Ghatkopar, locked himself on the mezzanine floor of the building on Sunday morning. Unfortunately for him, when he jumped out of one of the windows, he landed straight into the arms of the police and locals waiting to catch him.

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The Parksite police said Aqeel Raees Ahmed Khureshi, 28, entered the building adjoining a restaurant, Sujata, near the Amrut Nagar slums, hoping to steal mobile phones.

“The structure has been built for the staffers of the restaurant and they keep their mobile phones in one of the rooms,” said SB Gosavi, assistant sub-inspector, Parksite police station.

He said, “Khureshi entered the building but was spotted by the manager of the restaurant Anil Sunder Shetty. When Shetty went to the room to confront him, Khureshi panicked and locked himself inside.”

The restaurant staffers and neighbours tried to get him out with threats, without success. Two policemen who were patrolling nearby were then notified. “But, after some time, Khureshi jumped from the window of the mezzanine floor, hoping to escape. But, he was caught because he landed on the people waiting to catch him,” Gosavi said. Khureshi injured his leg as he had jumped from a height, police said.

The Parksite police have registered a case under section 380 (theft in dwelling house) and under 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment), of the Indian Penal Code.

“We are verifying Khureshi’s antecedents and whether he was involved in any more cases of robbery,” Gosavi said.