Covering your face with a mask has become the new norm and if you are not following safety protocols, people give you the stink eye and for good reason. However, it is becoming a challenge for police officials to identify and nab offenders who look just the same as everyone else with their faces covered.?
Earlier, hiding your face is how thieves used to get away, now they just blend in with the rest of the public.?
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Taking advantage of the situation, a man carried out thefts at malls in Kolkata, while keeping his face covered with a mask. However, he was identified and arrested after he pulled down his mask for a moment, to scratch his face.??
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The man, identified as Ratan Bhattacharya, is a resident of Zinzira Bazar locality of Kolkata. He was a security guard until the pandemic crisis robbed him of his job.?
Following this, he took to theft at city malls, concealing his identity with his face mask.
On December 25, 2020, a woman was shopping at Kidderpore Mall. When she got distracted, Bhattacharya stole her purse which contained Rs 99,300, besides 10 US dollars and 700 Euros.?
While trying to get away, he apparently pulled down his mask for scratching his face. His uncovered face was caught in the CCTV camera installed there.?
After that, the police tracked him down to his house on New Year day and arrested him.
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Well, that's really not the kind of start he would've imagined. It looks like the police is going to have to get creative in order to nab criminals, now that covering your face is practically mandatory.