Mumbai: The Borivali Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested a 47-year-old alleged habitual offender for committing thefts from passengers while boarding outstation trains at Borivali station. The accused had swooped on valuables worth Rs 10.4 lakh in two cases. The GRP has recovered valuables worth Rs 8.40 lakh from him. The accused has 14 theft cases against him.

The accused, Shrikant Damani, is a resident of Ambujwadi in Malad and has at least 14 theft cases registered against him. The GRP official started hunting for the thief after two cases were registered at Indore and Vadodara railway police stations by passengers who had boarded trains for the respective locations from Mumbai and so the investigation was transferred to the Borivali GRP.

The modus involved was the same in both cases and Damani revealed that he had opened the chain of the bags while the passengers were in a jiffy to board the trains and had a stroke of luck after he found gold ornaments in both the attempts. The booty was in all worth Rs 10.40 lakh.