Mumbai: Thief behind CSMT’s great toilet robbery held

The washbasins and urinals targeted by the accused at CSMT

The miscreant who had been systematically making off with taps, faucets and jet sprays from public and staff toilets at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) since Saturday was caught red-handed at 1 am on Wednesday. The accused, Ranchi resident Mohammed Owais, 23, allegedly caused Railways to lose Rs 1.22 lakh. Shopkeepers who bought the stolen items in scrap from Sion-Koliwada area have also been detained.

"We caught the thief while he was stealing from the local line. He couldn't enter the AC toilet as it was locked, so he entered the old toilet where he was seen stealing fittings on Tuesday," Central Railway (CR) Chief Public Relations Officer Dr Swapnil Nila said on Wednesday.

After the matter came to light, the authorities filed a complaint with the police, increased monitoring and started keeping a tab on amenities.

Valves that were recovered from the accused

"It started on Saturday with thefts in the running room toilets. The running room is where train drivers and guards take breaks. Eight bibcocks, nine stopcocks and two jet sprays were stolen. On Monday, three pillarcocks were stolen from the ladies' toilet and one each from gents' and new AC toilet," an official said.

Mohammed Owais

On Tuesday, the new running room was targeted and two more bib and stopcocks and several jet sprays were stolen. From the mainline gents' toilet, bottle traps went missing and then the new AC toilet on local line was targeted with six jet sprays, pillar and bibcocks, jet holders and bottle traps stolen and seat covers missing," he added.

A social media page Mumbai Matterz highlighted the issue and alerted Railways. "Taps & pipe fittings at the "State of the Art Toilet" at CSMT are being systematically stolen," it posted, evoking a response from the Railways, which said the matter would be investigated.

Thief's haul

Saturday
New running room
8 Bibcocks
9 Stopcocks
2 Two-in-one bibcocks
2 Jet sprays

Monday
Mainline toilets
4 Pillarcocks
Local line AC toilet
1 Pillarcock

Tuesday
New running room
2 Bibcocks
2 Stopcocks
4 Two-in-one bibcocks
4 jet sprays
Mainline gents' toilet
3 Bottle traps

Local line AC toilet
6 Jet sprays
1 Pillar tap
4 Two-in-one bibcocks.
4 Jet holders
6 Bottle traps