Chandigarh Burglary Spree Strikes Multiple Locations
In a concerning series of criminal incidents, burglars targeted multiple locations across Chandigarh on Monday, leaving residents and authorities alarmed. The coordinated spree involved break-ins at two residential houses, a temple, and an anganwadi center, with thieves making off with significant amounts of cash, valuable jewelry, household items, and even gas cylinders.
Temple Burglary in Dhanas Area
At a temple located in the Dhanas area, the burglary occurred during the early morning hours between 2 am and 3 am, according to temple representative Gurvinder Singh. The perpetrators gained entry by breaking through iron grills at the rear of the premises, an area that was not covered by the temple's CCTV surveillance system. While five security cameras were installed at the temple, all of them were positioned to monitor the front entrance only.
After successfully entering the temple, the intruder used an iron rod to break open the donation box and escaped with approximately Rs 10,000 in cash. CCTV footage from inside the temple captured the suspect attempting to cover an indoor camera with a piece of cloth, though his face remained clearly visible in the recording. The footage also showed the individual unsuccessfully trying to break into a storeroom located at the back of the temple.
Gurvinder Singh revealed that the suspect is being identified as Ramu, a painter who had previously worked at the temple and his home approximately three years ago. This connection has provided investigators with a potential lead in their ongoing probe.
Residential Burglaries in Hallomajra and Sector 63
In the Hallomajra area, resident Avdhesh Kumar reported that burglars targeted his house while he and his parents were away at work around 10 am. When Kumar returned home at approximately 1 pm for lunch, he discovered the main door lock broken and his residence completely ransacked. The thieves allegedly stole a pair of silver anklets, gold earrings, Rs 4,000 in cash, and several items of clothing.
Another residential burglary was reported from Sector 63, where resident Atish and a friend returned home around 7 pm to find their main gate lock broken and their flat thoroughly searched and disturbed. Atish reported the theft of valuable gold jewelry including a kara, multiple rings, and a chain, along with diamond earrings, silver anklets, and Rs 5,000 in cash. Sector 49 police are actively investigating this particular case as part of the broader pattern of criminal activity.
Anganwadi Center Targeted Over Weekend
In a separate but related incident, an anganwadi center in Sector 45 was targeted over the weekend. Anganwadi worker Sukhwinder Kaur explained that the center had been securely locked on Friday evening. When staff members returned on Monday morning, they discovered the back door open and the premises completely ransacked.
The burglars made off with several valuable items including an LED television, two gas cylinders, and an induction stove. Sector 34 police have registered a formal case against unknown persons and have initiated a comprehensive investigation into this particular burglary.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
Local law enforcement authorities have recorded detailed statements from all victims and witnesses across the multiple incidents. Police have launched separate but coordinated investigations into each burglary, examining potential connections between the crimes and following up on all available leads.
The Chandigarh Police are currently analyzing CCTV footage from various locations, gathering forensic evidence from the crime scenes, and pursuing multiple investigative angles to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this coordinated burglary spree across the city.
