Man took more than 200 flights per year

He stole jewellery from unsuspecting victims

He was arrested after meticulous investigation

A 40-year-old man has been apprehended by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in a spree of in-flight thefts targeting unsuspecting passengers. Rajesh Kapoor stands accused of pilfering jewellery and other valuables from handbags belonging to co-passengers during at least 200 flights over the past year, clocking over 110 days of travel for his illicit activities. Kapoor’s arrest came following diligent investigative work prompted by two separate theft incidents reported on flights in recent months.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani disclosed that Kapoor’s modus operandi involved targeting vulnerable passengers, particularly elderly women, on premium domestic flights bound for destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad. Exploiting the chaos of boarding, he would clandestinely rummage through overhead cabins, carefully selecting his victims and absconding with their belongings.

After extensive analysis of CCTV footage and flight manifests, Kapoor was identified as a suspect, leading to his eventual apprehension. Further investigation revealed Kapoor’s involvement in a total of 11 cases, including theft, gambling, and criminal breach of trust. It was divulged that Kapoor primarily squandered his ill-gotten gains on online and offline gambling pursuits.

Kapoor’s arrest serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance during air travel, with authorities urging passengers to remain cautious and safeguard their belongings against such opportunistic criminals.