Conman hypnotises
jeweller, steals diamonds
MUMBAI, April 13, 2009 (AFP) -
Indian police are hunting a conman who hypnotised a Mumbai
jewellery store worker before stealing 160,000 dollars worth of
diamond necklaces and bracelets.
Katrina Sunil Purswami, who works at
the Seres store in the upmarket Bandra West suburb, was told by the
man on Saturday that he wanted to give the gems as a present and
persuaded her to bring them to a nearby hotel.
"When the employee went to the
hotel, the accused acted like he was the owner," senior police
inspector Prakash George was quoted as saying by the Daily News and
Analysis newspaper on Monday.
"As Purswami was showing him the
sets, he asked her to write the details of the sets for him. He
then hypnotised her and decamped with the ornaments. Purswami was
left confused and could not understand what was going
on."
The officer said the jeweller's
store was newly opened and the owner allowed the employee to visit
the hotel with the diamonds because he thought he was in line for a
large sale.
Police are studying CCTV from the
hotel to try to identify the conman but cameras at the shop were
not working, George said.