Women disguised as men held for daytime house thefts in Bengaluru

Representative image

• Burglars in Bengaluru used disguise to blend in and commit daytime thefts
• Two teenage girls dressed as men helped the group avoid suspicion
• Police arrested three suspects and recovered stolen jewellery and a two-wheeler

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What initially appeared to be an ordinary daytime burglary in north Bengaluru turned out to involve an unusual method that helped the accused slip past watchful neighbours.

Investigators later found that the suspects relied on disguise to carry out house thefts while moving unnoticed through residential streets, according to a report by News18.

The incident that led to the arrests took place on January 13 in Agrahara Layout, near Yelahanka, under the jurisdiction of Sampigehalli police.

The complainant, Sangamesh, an auto driver, had locked his home and stepped out with family members, assuming the house would be safe during daytime hours.

According to officers, the accused had been surveying the neighbourhood, carefully checking which houses were locked.

Once certain no one was inside, they allegedly forced open the lock, entered the house, and escaped with gold jewellery valued at around Rs 3 lakh and Rs 15,000 in cash taken from an almirah. By the time the family returned, the valuables were gone.

What drew attention later was how the group managed to blend in so easily. Police said the trio consisted of one adult woman and two teenage girls.

To avoid suspicion, the girls wore shirts and trousers typically associated with men, creating the impression that the group was a woman moving around with young men.

This visual trick, investigators believe, allowed them to walk through layouts in broad daylight without raising alarms.

The case took a turn when police examined CCTV footage from surrounding buildings. The visuals showed the suspects arriving and leaving the area on a two-wheeler.

Based on the vehicle details, officers traced the owner and discovered that the accused were relatives of the person who owned the vehicle.

“At first, we thought the crime involved a woman and two ‘boys’,” a police officer said, referring to the initial CCTV assessment. “Further inquiry revealed that the two ‘boys’ were actually teenage girls dressed as men.”

The revelation helped police piece together the method used in what they suspect may be multiple thefts.

The main accused was identified as Reshma, 42, a resident of Devarajeevanahalli. She, along with the two teenagers, was arrested and later remanded to judicial custody.

Police said Reshma played a central role in planning the thefts and drawing the minors into the activity.

During questioning, the accused reportedly told investigators that the thefts were meant to support a comfortable lifestyle. Officers recovered six grams of gold jewellery, about 60 grams of silver articles, and the two-wheeler allegedly used in the crime.

Police believe more cases may be linked to the group and say efforts are ongoing to trace additional burglaries and recover remaining property.

Following the arrests, police reiterated their advice to residents to stay vigilant even during daytime and to report any suspicious movement in their neighbourhoods.