Mervin J Noronha

Mangaluru, May 17: A painful incident involving my 76-year-old mother on 12 May 2026 is a serious warning to the public, especially elderly people travelling alone.

At around noon, she boarded an SNDT service bus from Katapady (Udupi) to State Bank, Mangaluru. Three women seated behind the driver warmly offered her a seat and spoke kindly to her in what appeared to be Tamil. While paying for her ticket, my mother unknowingly exposed her small purse inside her handbag. The women were carefully observing her movements, though my mother never suspected them. She is a simple, humble, and trusting person.

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Later, when she began coughing, one of the women offered her water to drink. What happened afterwards remains unclear to her.

By the time she got off in Mangaluru, her purse containing cash and important documents had disappeared from her handbag. Shockingly, even the gold chain from her neck — weighing more than five pavan (sovereigns) — had been stolen.

Confused and helpless, my mother somehow reached Konaje with the few coins left in her bag. Thankfully, her old mobile phone remained untouched, and she managed to call home for help.

This is not an isolated case. Similar incidents have reportedly taken place in the Kaup area too. These gangs prey especially on innocent senior citizens, using kindness and distraction as weapons.

Let this be a wake-up call to society:

• Do not display cash or valuables while travelling.

• Never accept food or drinks from strangers.

• Stay alert in buses and crowded public places.

The stolen documents are extremely important for our family, and the gold too. If anyone has any information regarding the missing purse, documents, or gold chain, kindly contact: 8310067228.