Miscreants break into house; steal hidden ornaments worth Rs.10.5 lakh

Vittal: Miscreants broke into a house at Ukkuda in Vittal Casba village in the taluk late night on Wednesday, and made away with hidden ornaments and 44 sovereigns of gold ornaments worth Rs 10.5 lakh after gaining entry into the house by smashing the protective wall behind the house.

The house that was burgled has belonged to Abbas Haji from Ukkuda, the house is located near Ukkuda check post and the thieves seemed to have waited for an opportunity to sneak into the house when no one was around. Haji had locked his home at 5.30 pm on Wednesday and left to attend Mehndi ceremony scheduled in the house of a relative at Kumbra, along with his family members. The family members returned home after the function at 12.30 am the same night and found that the rear door was wide open, clothes inside the house were scattered around, and cupboards inside the house had been opened and sifted through.

The valuable ornaments were hidden in a tin box full of rice, after police department distributed pamphlets to villagers, advising them to safe-keep valuables in bank lockers, kitchens or storerooms instead of cupboards. Perhaps thieves seemed to be either very smart or know in advance that ornaments had been hidden somewhere.

Immediately after finding out about the theft, the family informed Vittal police station. Police personnel visited the house and promised to pursue the case vigorously. Town police circle inspector, Prakash, too visited the house on Thursday and began an investigation, duly aided by sniffer dogs and fingerprint experts.

A case has been registered in Vittal police station. As the sniffer dog led the police till the asphalted road located 50 meters from the house and looked here and there, it is assumed that the thieves would have fled in a vehicle from there. The police are checking the possibility of identifying the thieves with the help of CCTV cameras installed in Ukkuda check post.