After years of evading authorities, a 46-year-old woman, dubbed Delhi's 'serial maid thief,' has been apprehended. She is accused of orchestrating numerous high-value house thefts across the city, posing as a domestic helper to gain access to affluent homes. Her unique modus operandi involved never selling the stolen gold and diamond jewelry but instead using it to secure loans from non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
Years of Deception and High-Value Thefts
Operating under various identities, including Sonia, Sona, and Anita, the woman's alleged criminal activities date back to 2008. Police link her to at least six house thefts, with the most recent reported in April 2026. Investigators describe a methodical approach: she would work for a few days, observe where valuables were kept, steal them, and then flee. She often relied on information from security guards in upscale colonies to identify households seeking temporary domestic help.
Notable incidents include the alleged theft of jewelry worth approximately Rs 2 crore from a Shalimar Bagh residence in October last year, and Rs 60 lakh from a Maurya Enclave home in September 2025. Her first recorded theft occurred in Punjabi Bagh in 2008.
The Gold Loan Strategy: A Unique Approach to Stolen Wealth
Instead of liquidating her ill-gotten gains, the accused allegedly deposited the stolen jewelry in lockers maintained by NBFCs and obtained gold loans against them. A senior police officer stated she deposited jewelry with Muthoot Finance for a gold loan. Authorities have traced over 2 kg of gold to 15 such lockers opened by her since 2008, indicating a sophisticated system for managing her stolen assets.
The Arrest and Unveiling of Her Life
Her arrest followed a complaint from businessman Vijay Pal Gupta, whose Shalimar Bagh home reportedly lost jewelry worth about Rs 1.5 crore in April. Police tracked the suspect to Rohini Sector 11. During a raid on her three-story house on April 29, officers found 15 dogs, including Pitbulls and American Bullies. She was discovered hiding under quilts.
During questioning, she initially identified herself as Malika, though an Aadhaar card bearing the name Sona was recovered. Investigators also claim she owns multiple properties worth crores in Rohini, including in Sector 5, and bred dogs for sale. Jewelry allegedly stolen from Gupta's residence was also found deposited in a loan company locker, further cementing the evidence against her.