Grocery shopping proved too costly for Rajeshwari Mali, a resident of Kamdhenu Appartments in Navghar, Mulund, after Rs 5.35 lakh was stolen from her house.

Apparantely the theft took place between 5.30 pm and 6.15 pm on November 12, when she was out shopping. The housemaid, who recently joined work at the Mali residence is a suspect, according to the police.

The thief broke the lock as well as the latch of their house, on the 3rd floor. There was no chance of the neighbours hearing any commotion as two flats out of the four on the floor are always locked, and the  only occupied neighbour of Mali had gone out at 4 pm.

A police officer from Navghar police station said, "We are interrogating the case and will be questioning the maid who had joined for work just four days back."

Mali like any other household conveniently forgot to take details such as full name, residential address, relatives known and other particulars of the housemaid. However, her son Nimesh Mali (25) said, "I saw the maid today morning for the first time and immediately took requisite details. It seems pre-planned operation to me."

Nimesh Mali is presently working at a private firm and he leaves home at 8 am and returns only at 8 pm. During the entire day, his mother is the only person in the house.

Meanwhile, the building watchman said that he hadn't seen anyone coming or going in that period. The watchman makes entries of every outsider entering the building.