A gang of women thieves targeting female devotees at temples in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, was busted following a police crackdown after a judge's 'mangalsutra' was snatched. Ten women have been arrested in connection with the thefts.

The incident that triggered the police action occurred on June 1, 2025 when Prema Sahu, an Additional District and Sessions Judge posted in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, was visiting the Thakur Shri Radharaman Temple in Vrindavan with her family. During the visit, her gold 'mangalsutra' was snatched.

Following the incident, law enforcement launched a campaign to identify and apprehend women thieves and pickpockets active in the temples. The efforts led to the arrest of ten women on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar stated that during interrogation, it was discovered that the women hailed from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and had traveled to Vrindavan and Mathura to engage in pickpocketing, phone theft, and snatching valuable ornaments in crowded temples.

Police recovered several stolen purses containing cash, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, debit cards, driving licenses, and other important documents from the arrested women. A total of Rs 18,652 in cash was also recovered.

The SSP added that legal proceedings have been initiated against the arrested women, and they have been sent to jail. This arrest has brought relief to devotees visiting temples in Mathura and Vrindavan, as these women have been a menace for a while. Authorities are urging visitors to remain vigilant and take precautions to safeguard their belongings, especially during peak hours and festive seasons. The police have also increased surveillance and deployed additional personnel in plain clothes to deter such criminal activities.