Two women have been arrested after a gang of thieves allegedly stole gold, silver and cash from a jewellery shop in Lohagara town of Narail.
The incident took place at Sajal Jewellers near Thana Mor in Lohagara on Monday (March 9) morning.
According to shop owner Shanti Swarnakar (60), he opened his shop around 10:30 am and placed a bag containing gold ornaments on a chair. At that time, three women and two men entered the shop pretending to be customers.
Two members of the group distracted him by saying there was money lying on the floor. When he looked down, another member of the gang quickly took the bag and fled.
Later, the shop owner discovered that the bag was missing. He said the bag contained about 35 bhari of gold ornaments, around 100 bhari of silver and Tk 4.5 lakh in cash. He searched nearby areas but could not find the suspects.
Meanwhile, locals caught two women while they were allegedly trying to steal a necklace from a woman at the emergency department of Lohagara Upazila Health Complex using the same tactic.
The arrested women are Habiba Akhtar (24), wife of Khokon Mia from Dharmapur village of Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria, and Maryam Khanam (30), daughter of Anwar Ali of the same area. Another suspected member of the gang, Hasina Begum (34), managed to escape.
Local people later handed the two women over to Lohagara Police Station.
Police said the arrested women are believed to be members of an organised theft gang involved in similar crimes in different areas.
Shop owner Shanti Swarnakar has filed a written complaint with Lohagara Police Station.
Inspector (Investigation) Ajit Kumar Roy of Lohagara Police Station said police are investigating the incident and legal action will be taken.
