The police managed to trace Bala (32), a resident of Sector 38, after a persistent hunt, sources said.

Following her arrest, the police claimed to have solved two cases, and hope to crack many more. She has been mainly active in Sectors 37 and 38, strikes alone between 11 am and 2 pm, breaks open the locks with an iron rod, and commits the theft. Bala's husband is in Ludhiana and the couple have four children. According to the police she supports herself by stealing.