A pan parlour in Ahmedabad's Vastrapur area became the target of a daring burglary this week, resulting in a significant loss for the shop owner. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, saw the thief make off with cash, cigarettes, and crucial security equipment.
Details of the Vastrapur Pan Parlour Break-In
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed with the Vastrapur police, the pan parlour is operated by Pradip Patel, a 29-year-old resident of Bodakdev. The shop is located at Indraprasth Tower on Drive-in Road. Patel typically closes his business around 11 pm. On Saturday night, he followed his usual routine, locking up the shop before heading home.
The crime was discovered the following morning. When Patel returned to his shop around 10 am on Sunday, he was met with a scene of disarray. The shutter lock was forcibly broken, and the interior of the parlour had been ransacked.
Inventory of Stolen Goods and Total Loss
The burglar conducted a thorough sweep of the premises. The stolen items include:
- Approximately Rs 10,000 in cash that was kept at the counter.
- A black DVR (Digital Video Recorder) from the CCTV surveillance system, valued at about Rs 5,000.
- Around 40 boxes of cigarettes, with an estimated worth of nearly Rs 10,000.
After assessing the damage, the total loss from the theft is estimated to be around Rs 25,000.
Police Investigation and Next Steps
The Vastrapur police have officially registered a case of theft and have launched an investigation into the matter. A key focus of their probe is the examination of CCTV footage from nearby establishments. Authorities hope this external footage will help identify the accused, especially since the shop's own recording system was stolen.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of small businesses to such crimes and underscores the importance of robust security measures, including off-site data backup for surveillance systems.
