LAHORE, Feb 14: The Crimes Investigation Agency police claimed on Tuesday to have arrested a gangster and recovered from him the diamond necklace he had stolen from an Indian jewellery stall during an exhibition at Johar Town’s Expo Centre.

CIA SP Liaquat Ali Malik told Dawn a police team took into custody Shakeel Jameel (of Jandiala, Sheikhupura) in Lahore. He said Shakeel was a professional pickpocket and released on bail from a jail in connection with a murder case four months ago.

The SP said Shakeel stole the set worth Rs700,000 from the stall of ND Diamonds on Feb 12. He said the police picked up the suspect through their secret network of information as CCTV footages and witness accounts hardly helped the investigators in tracing the suspect.

He said a suspected woman had nothing to do with the theft. He said the recovered item would be handed over to the company after legal formalities.