Diwali Cleaning Turns Into Rs.12 Lakh Theft Case in Mumbai

Three workers have been arrested after gold and silver worth Rs.12 lakh went missing from a Malad West home following an online cleaning booking. Police recovered the valuables.

Rs.12 Lakh Worth Of Jewellery Goes Missing During Diwali Home Cleaning

Diwali is one of India's biggest festivals, and cleaning homes before the festival is an important tradition for many families. Many people now hire professional cleaners or book home-cleaning services through online platforms. However, a recent theft case in Mumbai has raised concerns about the safety of hiring workers for household services.

On 26 October 2026, four workers arrived at the home of a 52-year-old woman living in Falcon Tower, Malad West. She had booked a cleaning service through the HomeTriangle app. According to the police complaint, the workers arrived at around 10 am. They reportedly locked themselves inside the master bedroom, saying they needed to spray cleaning chemicals.

One worker also left the house for around 15 minutes, saying he was going to buy vada pav. The workers finished cleaning and left at around 1:30 pm. They reportedly promised to return the next day to complete the remaining work. However, on 28 October, the family discovered that gold and silver valuables kept inside a bedroom cupboard were missing.

The stolen items included a 50-gram gold necklace, a 10-gram mangalsutra, a 50-gram gold biscuit and 500 grams of silver coins. Their total value was estimated at around Rs.12 lakh.

Police Arrest Three Suspects and Recover Valuables

After the family filed a complaint, Malad Police began investigating the case. They collected details of the four workers who had visited the house through the online platform. During the investigation, police found that the workers had switched off their mobile phones and were staying at different locations.

Using technical information and phone tracking, police arrested two suspects, Satyam Shukla and Anish Chaurasiya, in the Palghar district. The third suspect, Pawan Dhivar, was arrested in Boisar. According to the police, the three allegedly planned the theft together. Investigators suspect that Dhivar, who worked as a housekeeping contractor, played a key role in planning and carrying out the theft.

Police recovered the stolen valuables. The role and whereabouts of the fourth worker were still being investigated, according to the report.

Previous Theft Cases Involving Cleaning and Housekeeping Staff

This is not the first reported case in Mumbai involving thefts linked to cleaning or housekeeping workers.

In January 2026, two cleaners were arrested for allegedly stealing gold and silver jewellery and cash worth around Rs.5.3 lakh from a businessman's bungalow in Juhu. The family had travelled to Gujarat. According to the police, the accused entered the property by climbing over a wall at the back of the bungalow.

In another case, a housekeeping worker was arrested in January 2026 for allegedly stealing around 185 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs.26.5 lakh from a locked flat in Malad West. Police later recovered the stolen jewellery.

Earlier, in October 2024, a woman in Dahisar West booked a pre-Diwali cleaning service through the NoBroker app. Two workers visited her home, and she later discovered that around 60 grams of gold jewellery worth approximately Rs.4 lakh was missing. Police arrested a suspect in that case.

What Should Families Check Before Hiring Home Cleaners?

These incidents highlight the importance of checking the identity and background of workers before allowing them into a home.

Families can take precautions by:

Asking workers to show their company identity cards.
Checking whether the service provider conducts background and police verification.
Confirming the names of the workers assigned to the booking.
Keeping jewellery, cash and other valuables locked away during cleaning.
Contacting the service provider if the workers sent to the home do not match the booking details.

The is a reminder that families should check who is entering their homes, even when a service is booked through an established online platform.