Woman poses as doctor, steals jewellery at Stanley Medical College hostel; arrested
Chennai: A 39-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly entering the women’s hostel of Government Stanley Medical College in a doctor’s coat and stealing gold jewellery from the room of a postgraduate student.
The incident took place when a second-year postgraduate student in Paediatrics returned to her room and went to sleep after removing around two sovereigns of gold jewellery and keeping it there. Police said the woman allegedly entered the room while the student was asleep, took the jewellery and quickly headed towards the hostel exit.
Her hurried movements reportedly raised suspicion among hostel staff, who stopped her before she could leave the premises. During questioning, she allegedly gave contradictory replies about her presence inside the hostel. The staff subsequently detained her and handed her over to the Stanley Government Hospital police.
Police said the woman was later identified and the stolen jewellery was traced back to the student’s room. Investigators also found that she had allegedly been entering the hostel for several days by posing as a doctor, using the appearance of a medical professional to gain access to the premises.
The arrest comes amid complaints from hostel residents about repeated thefts of jewellery, mobile phones and other valuables from students’ rooms. Students had earlier brought the matter to the attention of the hostel administration.
During the investigation, police found that the woman had six other theft cases pending against her, raising the possibility that she may have been involved in some of the earlier incidents as well, reports DT Next.
The women’s hostel is located within the Stanley Medical College campus, and the repeated thefts had caused concern among students over security inside the premises.
Police have registered a case and are continuing to investigate the woman’s alleged movements inside the hostel and her possible involvement in the other reported thefts.
