Two women from Thane have reported that $25,000, worth more than Rs 23.6 lakh, was stolen from their checked-in baggage during a Mumbai-Dubai journey, making it the largest baggage theft case recorded at Mumbai's Sahar police station between January and August this year.

The women, aged 40 and 46, travelled on a SpiceJet flight on August 26. After reaching Dubai, they found that one of their bags had been broken open and the cash kept inside was missing. An FIR was registered on September 3.

The incident has also raised questions about security around baggage handling areas at Mumbai airport, particularly sections that may not be covered by CCTV cameras.

Women carried savings for wedding-related expenses

The two women, who are family friends, had borrowed money and carried their savings to Dubai for shopping related to a wedding planned in December, as well as for travel expenses.

After discovering the missing cash, the women reportedly spent four days at their hotel without access to money before returning to Mumbai on Sunday.

The 40-year-old complainant has asked police to check the attendance records of loaders who were assigned to their flight between 11am and 2pm on August 26.

She suspects that someone may have noticed the cash during the X-ray screening of the baggage and subsequently alerted a loader. Police reportedly told the women that hundreds of loaders were working at the airport and that CCTV coverage was unavailable in some stretches between the baggage conveyor system and the aircraft's cargo hold.

The women were also informed that carrying large amounts of cash in checked-in baggage was not advisable.

16 baggage theft cases registered this year

The $25,000 theft is among 16 baggage theft cases registered at Sahar police station during the first eight months of 2026. According to the report, none of these cases has been solved so far.

The second-largest case involved Borivli resident Vandana Bhise, 48, who reported the loss of six gold-studded rings valued at Rs 15 lakh after travelling from Chicago to Mumbai. Her complaint was registered on April 24.

Two other cases were reported within a day of each other in August. MBBS students from Ratnagiri and Sambhaji Nagar reported losses of Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively after discovering that their bags had been opened on arrival in Moscow. Their journeys from Mumbai involved EgyptAir and Etihad flights.

Other complainants included seamen, a businesswoman and a senior corporate executive. Their reported losses involved gold ornaments, mobile phones, cash and, in some cases, entire bags.

Former police chief calls for airport informer network

DCP West Zone-1 Nimit Goyal said he would verify the details of the cases before commenting.

Former Mumbai police commissioner D Sivanandhan said investigators should not depend only on CCTV footage and should develop an informer network within the airport.

He also suggested that the crime branch examine the cases, pointing to the possibility that thieves could exploit areas outside CCTV coverage and receive information about valuable items after they are detected during baggage screening.

The latest complaint is now being investigated by police, with the complainant saying she intends to continue pursuing the case until the stolen money is recovered.