A Mumbai girl conned the watchman of a neighbouring building into giving her keys to a Honda City but was later caught by the police, media reported.
The 16-year-old girl from Antop Hill was so bent on “celebrating 26/11” at Juhu with her boyfriend that she allegedly stole a car from her neighbourhood in order to drive there, the report said.
The girl, who has now been arrested by Pant Nagar police, shifted to Mumbai six months ago.
On Thursday morning, the girl asked her father, who works with an automobile firm, for his car, as she wanted to go and meet her boyfriend, but was refused.
The report said, she then went into a neighbouring building and asked the watchman Satish Lodi - who also doubles up as a car washer - to hand over the keys of the Honda City he was washing. This was at 9.30 am.
According to Lodi's statement to the Antop Hill police, the girl (who cannot be named because she's a minor) told Lodi that she would complain to the car owner if he did not obey her.
Assuming that the girl was a relative of the car's owner Ramesh Pandey, Lodi handed over the car keys.
Pandey said the girl - student of a Matunga college - went ahead and pulled a fast one over his driver, Dinesh Maurya, as well.
“When Maurya arrived at the scene five minutes later he saw her in the car and was told by Lodi that she was my relative and wanted the car. Maurya then gave her a quick demonstration on how to operate the car and she drove off.”
Within minutes, according to Pandey, Maurya reported for work and informed him that his “friend had already taken the car”.
Police say that Pandey then immediately headed for the Antop Hill Police Station and police then sent out a city-wide alert for the car,” added police.
In less than an hour, Pandey's car was traced to Pant Nagar, in Ghatkopar, where she was arrested.
The girl allegedly did not know the roads of the city well and landed in Ghatkopar instead of Juhu.
The Honda City that the accused allegedly stole from a building in her neighbourhood
“The girl said she was married to her boyfriend, which we found hard to believe considering her age and family background. She seems to be depressed…,” said police inspector Vijay Khaire of the Pant Nagar Police Station.
Police say during interrogation she said she had stolen the car to “celebrate 26/11”. “We have booked her under section 379 (theft) of the IPC and will produce her in court on Friday,” said D N Deokar, senior inspector, Antop Hill Police Station.
