Burglars loot Rs 23 crore jewellery in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: In an audacious heist, just a stone's throw from Punjagutta police station, burglars entered a Tanishq showroom by making a hole on the rear wall and stole 30 kg of gold ornaments worth Rs 23 crore on Saturday.

Incidentally, the burglars, including one limping, stole gold and precious stones right under the glare of CCTV cameras and two security guards.

Police suspect the culprits had done a proper recce of the building, both inside and outside, as they chose a soft spot to enter the jewellery store. Probably, this could be the biggest-ever heist in a jewellery store in the city.

Around 10 am, Tanishq staff found the store ransacked and gold ornaments kept in display stands missing. Immediately, store manager R Manikandan informed Punjagutta police about the missing valuables besides finding a hole on the rear side of the building.

Police said plain gold ornaments worth Rs 11 crore (18kg), colour stones and other ornaments worth Rs 12 crore (12 kg) kept in nine shelves were stolen by breaking the locks with a rod. The outlet was closed on Friday night at 9 pm. Police suspect the theft must have taken place in the early hours on Saturday.

CCTV footage showed a suspect, aged between 20-25 years, moving on the ground floor with a distinct limp. However, police suspect at least two thieves might have participated in the burglary, leaving the two security personnel outside without any inkling.

Police said the burglars walked through the narrow area on the rear side of the building. Later, they made a hole, using a hammer. Though it was a narrow opening, a person sneaked through the hole and landed on the ground floor of the outlet, which runs business in two floors. Though diamonds and other high-value ornaments were on the second floor, the burglars did not touch it. Interestingly, the burglars took precaution by covering their hands and legs, probably with gloves, to ensure not to leave behind fingerprints.
Several fingerprints found on spot
"Many fingerprints were lifted from the spot, but it could be those of staff members or customers. However, we will analyse them," a police officer told STOI.

Surprisingly, the outlet neither had a burglar alarm nor a CCTV camera in front of the shop. Also, the security guards had not heard any sound when burglars hammered their way into the outlet. Burglars had struck at Joy Alukkas in the same neighbourhood, and made away with valuables worth over Rs 10 crore in 2006.

Hyderabad police commissioner Anurag Sharma and other senior officials visited the store. "With the available CCTV footage, we can only see one person entering the outlet through the hole and later exiting it after collecting the valuables." Based on a complaint, Punjagutta have registered a case. As the value of the lost property is high, the case might be transferred to the Central Crime Station (CCS).


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