In a brazen theft that highlights the vulnerability of unoccupied homes, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) couple's apartment in Ahmedabad was targeted by burglars, resulting in a loss of cash and valuables worth a staggering Rs 3.32 lakh. The incident, reported to the Sola police, occurred while the homeowners were living abroad in the Republic of Benin.
The Unoccupied Flat and the Discovery
The complainant, Vireshwar Joshi (60), resides with his wife at Mangalam Nirvana-2 near Umiya College in Ahmedabad's Sola area. Due to his professional role as the CEO of a textile company, the couple has been living in Benin for the past two years. Their son is also away, pursuing postgraduate studies in West Bengal, leaving their Ahmedabad flat unoccupied for extended periods.
The couple had employed a trusted domestic help for cleaning duties for nearly nine years. The break-in was discovered on December 18. Joshi's nephew, Dikshil, informed him that the domestic help had found clear signs of forced entry. Upon receiving the alarming news, Joshi rushed back to Ahmedabad on December 19 to assess the damage firsthand.
Extent of the Damage and Stolen Items
What Joshi found was a scene of ransacking and loss. The burglars had forced open the grille of a guest room window and broken the locks of two bedrooms. They systematically went through household articles and even damaged the property's CCTV cameras, cutting wires to avoid detection.
A thorough check revealed missing items with significant sentimental and monetary value. The stolen goods included:
- Rs 1.5 lakh in cash
- A mangalsutra, gold chain, gold ring, and earrings
- A rudraksha mala
- Multiple wristwatches
The total estimated value of the stolen cash and valuables was pegged at Rs 3.32 lakh. Police analysis suggests the burglary took place sometime between 4 PM on December 12 and 2 PM on December 18.
Police Investigation and Challenges
An FIR has been registered by the Sola police, who have launched a detailed investigation into the case. While the burglars damaged most surveillance equipment, footage from one camera reportedly captured an unidentified person, which may provide a crucial lead.
The police complaint was formally lodged on Monday after Joshi completed the painstaking process of cross-checking all household items and examining the available CCTV footage to confirm the exact nature and scale of the losses. This case underscores the risks faced by NRI families with vacant properties and the sophisticated methods employed by modern thieves to disable security systems.
Authorities are exploring all angles, and further investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend the culprits.
