Attention diversion: 5 women lose chains

BANGALORE: In separate incidents, a gang of criminals duped five women and made away with their gold ornaments in the guise of seeking their blessings. The modus operandi behind all the five incidents, reported in the city on Monday, were identical. The miscreants have commonly targeted aged women who were alone in shops.
Posing as customers, they purchased some items from their shops and later asked the women to bless them. Giving a currency note of `100, they asked the victims to touch the currency with their gold ornaments saying the women that it would bring them luck. After which, the miscreants diverted the attention of the victims and made away with their chains. Manjula (50), a resident of Nagarabhavi Main Road, who sells puja items at her shop, was conned by two miscreants who came on a bike. The duo purchased a few items and asked Manjula to bless them after giving her a note. Later, while Manjula was giving them the change, they snatched her gold chain worth `80,000 and sped away.