Ahmedabad Police Nab 19-Year-Old in Jewellery Heist After Wall Break-In
Ahmedabad police have cracked a jewellery shop robbery with a unique arrest. They caught a 19-year-old farm labourer for allegedly stealing goods worth Rs 1.75 lakh. The incident happened in the city's Sagar Apartment area.
How the Heist Unfolded
On January 8, early in the morning, the suspect targeted a jewellery shop. He did not try to open the heavy shutters or bypass high-tech security systems directly. Instead, he used an innovative method to break in.
The young man dug through the shop's rear brick wall. He created a narrow breach in the structure. Through this hole, he slipped inside the store quietly. Once inside, he took silver ornaments valued at Rs 1.75 lakh. Then he vanished into the night, leaving a puzzling scene for investigators.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajit Rajian described the event in a statement. He said the method showed careful planning and physical effort.
Police Investigation Strategy
The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of Ahmedabad City Police took charge of the case. Instead of focusing only on physical clues, they tried a different approach. They reconstructed the thief's psychology to guide their search.
Officers theorised that someone capable of such a labour-intensive break-in likely had a background in construction or manual labour. Such a person might seek refuge in familiar labour colonies after the crime. This insight helped narrow down the search area.
The police team concentrated their efforts on settlements near Ramol canal and Jamfalwadi. These areas are known for housing labour communities. The strategy aimed to find a suspect who felt comfortable in these neighbourhoods.
Digital Footprints and Surveillance
Investigators also worked on digital evidence to track the suspect. They synchronized feeds from hundreds of CCTV cameras across the Hatkeshwar-Ramol corridor. This technical effort looked for subtle movement patterns in the footage.
Specifically, they searched for individuals carrying heavy, concealed loads during the late night hours. By merging this surveillance with information from human informants, the Crime Branch tracked what they called 'digital breadcrumbs'. This combination of methods provided precise leads.
The Arrest and Recovery
With strong leads in hand, the police set a trap near the Shaktimata Temple at Jamfalwadi. They waited for the suspect to make a move. Soon, the 19-year-old, identified as Ashwin Khadiya, appeared while allegedly trying to move the stolen goods.
Officers arrested him at the scene. The police recovered all the stolen jewellery from his possession. This successful operation highlighted the effectiveness of blending psychological profiling with digital investigation techniques.
The case shows how Ahmedabad police adapt their methods to solve complex crimes. It also underscores the challenges of preventing such innovative thefts in urban areas.
