A con artist straight out of the movies has been caught by the Bengaluru police. Twenty three-year-old Shobha, who has reportedly made Rs four lakh in three months by selling stolen laptops, was nabbed at a service centre on Saturday while she was trying to sell a stolen laptop.

The Mico Layout Police have also recovered 10 other stolen laptops from her.

According to the police, Shobha, who hails from Chintamani, Chikkaballapur, is a diploma holder who recently quit her job at a private company after tasting success with her con job.

The police had received multiple complaints about her, and finally managed to nab her on the basis of a tip off.

Shobha’s Modus Operandi

While she was working at the private company, Shobha used to live in a Paying Guest (PG) accommodation in the city. That’s where she stole her first laptop – and when the laptop fetched her handsome returns, she decided to take it one step further.

“She then targeted other PG accommodations. She would visit them under the pretext of looking for a room on a sharing basis. She always used a different name,” a senior police officer said.

In order to hide her tracks, she would make a partial payment of the deposit money and convince the PG owners that she would furnish her ID details on a later date. It was only when she was alone in the room that she would steal laptops, other valuables and leave the spot with her backpack.

Police are also on the lookout for her boyfriend.