Mysuru: In separate incidents, miscreants, posing as Policemen, have made away with gold ornaments from women in city on Jan. 21. The two incidents took place in a gap of two-and-a-half-hours and it is suspected that the same miscreants may have committed the two crimes.

In the first incident, 78-year-old Devamma, a resident of Sathagalli HP and RMS Layout, had gone to Balamuri Temple opposite her house at about 8.30 am and after having the darshan of the deity, she was going round the temple when a person wearing a face mask approached her and told her that a Policeman was calling her and took Devamma.

The other man told Devamma that he was a Police Investigation Officer and also told her to remove her gold ornaments and keep them safely as there were chain-snatchers around. At the same time, another man on a bike arrived and the so called Police Officer stopped and slapped the rider and told him to remove the gold chain he was wearing and keep it safely. The rider removed the gold chain, kept it in his pocket and went away.

Later, the miscreant got the gold bangles Devamma was wearing removed and tied it to her saree and sent her. But when Devamma removed the knot to take out her gold bangles, she found fake bangles instead and lodged a complaint at Udayagiri Police Station.

In the second incident, which took place at about 11 am, 49-year-old M. Premalatha, a resident of Somanathapura at Dattagalli, who was walking towards Mahamane Circle from Aditya Circle on the Ring Road, was approached by a person wearing a face mask.

The person told Premalatha just as what was told to Devamma. He later got Premalatha’s two gold chains weighing about 45 grams, wrapped it in paper and gave it to her.

When Premalatha opened the paper to take out her gold chains, she found fake gold chains and lodged a complaint with Kuvempunagar Police.

Udayagiri and Kuvempunagar Police, who have registered separate cases, are investigating.