[Watch] Alert! Pickpockets Active In Odisha’s Puri; One Nabbed By Police

Puri: Be alert if you are visiting the Jagannath temple here. Pickpockets are at work and have laid their hands on some valuables of the tourists taking advantage of the rush.

A woman was caught red-handed by a tourist while the former tried to swipe her handbag at ‘Bhitara Katha’ of the temple. Singhadwara police nabbed the pickpocketer.

According to reports, a woman tourist Shilpa Rani Jena of Secunderabad was on a visit to the temple with her family when the pickpocketer identified as Nalini Panigrahi attempted to snatch her purse. An alert Shilpa caught hold of the thief and informed the police who arrested her.

Police have recovered Rs 4,800, ATM card and other valuables from Nalini, a resident of Bhimtangi Housing Colony in Bhubaneswar.

In a viral video Shilpa can be seen chasing Nalini to the outside of the temple and even venting out anger at her near the kiosk counter and in the barricade path, in the presence of police.

Despite tight security and installation of CCTV cameras such pickpocketers continue to have a field day taking advantage of the peak tourism season. Recently, an elderly man lost his purse from the back pocket which had his ATM card, PAN and Aadhaar cards besides cash of around Rs 500.