Mumbai: A 48-year-old man, who specialised in robbing old people by distracting them with claims that a murder was taking place nearby, was arrested by the crime branch on Wednesday and is being questioned.

The accused has at least 10 similar cases registered against him and has not appeared for court proceedings in any one of them. Gold worth Rs 1.05 lakh was recovered from him.

The accused was identified as Rajesh Bapardekar, a resident of Kopar in Dombivli. He would target aged men and women with claims that a murder had taken place a few metres ahead of the said spot. “He would suggest that they take off their ornaments as they could be targeted. He would make his victims wrap their ornaments in a handkerchief and snatch it,” said a crime branch officer.

He has 10 cases lodged with the property cell, Kurla, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Kandivali and Malwani police stations.