A gang of women thieves targeted Bidhannagar Mela (Utsav) this year, cocking a snook at the police booth near gate no. 1 and CCTV cameras across the fair grounds. Shoppers had their pockets picked and phones stolen by well-dressed women who, according to police, would target shoppers while they were busy inspecting items.

Although no police complaint has been lodged, fair authorities had handed over one such culprit to the police.
According to sources, these women would blend in with the crowd. Once they zeroed in on a target they would follow him or her into a stall and surround the person.

“They would pretend to be shoppers and engage the shopkeeper as well as the target. When he or she would get distracted they would steal their purses or phones and clear out of the stall,” said a police officer.

Sudeshna Maity, an FC Block resident, lost her purse and cellphone during a visit to the fair on January 16. “It was crowded and I was carrying large bags. There was a slight nudge. Soon after I realised that my cellphone and purse were missing. I went to the fair office and complained. Even after scanning the footage from the CCTV cameras they failed to find anything,” said Maity.