In a shocking breach of trust, a Bengaluru businessman returned from his New Year celebrations to find jewellery and luxury watches worth a staggering ₹1.37 crore stolen from his residence. The prime suspects are his own domestic help and her husband, who allegedly executed the theft while the family was away.
Trust Betrayed: The Three-Year Employee's Plan
The accused have been identified as 19-year-old Hajira Begum and her husband, 23-year-old Shabbir Hussain, both natives of Assam. According to senior police officials, Hajira had worked at the victim's house on 8th 'A' Main Road for three years, from 2022 to 2024, before taking a three-month break. It was during this period that the couple reportedly hatched their plan.
"The couple reportedly used this period to plan the theft. After rejoining the household just before the New Year, they both executed the crime," a police officer stated. Hajira's intimate knowledge of the house and the location of its valuables, gained over her three-year tenure, was crucial to the crime's execution.
The New Year Heist: How It Unfolded
The businessman and his family had travelled out of state on December 30, 2025, to ring in the New Year. Upon their return the very next day, on December 31, they discovered the theft. A cupboard had been cleaned out of its precious contents.
The stolen loot comprised:
- 787.66 grams of gold ornaments
- 291.08 grams of silver items
- Seven expensive luxury watches
The family immediately lodged a formal complaint at the Sadashivanagar police station on the same day, triggering a swift investigation.
Swift Police Action Leads to Recovery
The Bengaluru police, utilising CCTV footage and technical surveillance methods, quickly tracked down the accused. The investigation revealed that Hajira had contacted her husband, Shabbir Hussain, soon after the homeowners left, facilitating his entry into the house to commit the theft.
In a significant breakthrough, the police managed to recover the entire stolen property. The valuables were found at the couple's own residence, where they had stored all the items. The police arrested the duo on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Both accused were produced before a court and have been remanded to judicial custody. The police have confirmed that further investigations into the case are ongoing.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in urban households, where trust placed in long-term domestic staff can sometimes be tragically misplaced. The complete recovery of the valuables, however, offers a rare positive conclusion to a high-value property crime in the city.
