14 Shops Looted in Thane, UPI Payments Limit Thieves’ Haul to ₹27,000

Thane, Maharashtra: In a daring series of break-ins early Wednesday morning, thieves targeted 14 shops in Thane’s Charai area, stealing only ₹27,000 from eight of the establishments due to the widespread use of digital payment methods. The thieves, who broke into the shops by opening their shutters, also targeted a doctor's clinic, an Ayurvedic store, a paint shop, and a salon, all located within a 100-meter radius.

According to the police, the thefts were discovered in the early hours of the morning. The unknown group of thieves managed to break into the shops but found minimal cash on hand as most of the transactions in the area are now conducted digitally through UPI payments. Consequently, the total cash stolen amounted to just ₹27,000, spread across eight shops.

This incident is the second in less than a month, raising alarms over the law and order situation in the city. Just weeks earlier, a sword-wielding gang had threatened shopkeepers in Vartak Nagar, further intensifying concerns among local business owners.

Vinod Prajapati, a carpenter and shop owner, recounted his near escape from a major financial loss. Prajapati, who recently switched to accepting payments only through UPI, was spared from the theft. “On Tuesday, I felt bad as I didn’t earn enough, and whatever I did, they were through online payments, so I had no cash in the drawer. At 7 am on Wednesday, I got a call from someone who lives in the building opposite my shop, telling me my shutter had been broken,” said Prajapati.

When Prajapati arrived at his shop, he discovered that several other shops in the vicinity had also been broken into. Expressing frustration over the incident, he added, “We are self-employed and do not earn in lakhs. Small shop owners like us have no security from the authorities. If thefts like these keep happening, who will be held responsible?”

The police have registered a case against the unknown thieves and are investigating the matter further. Local residents and business owners are urging the authorities to step up security measures to prevent such incidents from recurring and to ensure the safety of small businesses in the area.