In a brazen late-night robbery, four unidentified individuals targeted a popular garment retail chain in Chandigarh's Sector 40, making off with merchandise and cash estimated to be worth between seven to eight lakh rupees. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving the showroom ransacked and authorities scrambling to identify the culprits.
The Discovery and Immediate Aftermath
The theft was uncovered at 9:30 AM on Tuesday when the showroom manager, Raju, arrived for work. He was met with a scene of disarray: broken locks and scattered goods. A quick assessment revealed that Rs 29,000 in cash and a large quantity of garments were missing. Raju, who has managed the showroom for years, immediately informed the police.
Upon receiving the alert, a PCR van and personnel from the Sector 39 police station swiftly reached the location. The police recorded Raju's formal statement and began their preliminary examination of the premises. The manager also alerted the chain's head office in Ludhiana, from where officials are expected to conduct a detailed audit to ascertain the exact financial loss.
CCTV Footage Reveals Methodical Operation
The entire burglary was captured by the showroom's security cameras, providing crucial evidence for the investigation. The footage shows four miscreants wearing masks and caps to conceal their identities. They are seen using a crowbar to break the locks before cautiously entering the premises.
The timeline from the CCTV is precise: the group broke into the showroom at approximately 2:20 AM and completed their operation, fleeing the scene by around 2:58 AM. This indicates they had a narrow window of 38 minutes to ransack the place and collect their haul. Police are now meticulously scrutinizing this footage to identify the burglars and trace their escape route.
Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps
The Sector 39 police have registered a case and the investigation is actively underway. The primary leads are the CCTV recordings, which the team hopes will offer clues about the suspects' appearance, movements, or the vehicle they might have used. The value of the stolen articles, initially pegged by the manager at Rs 7-8 lakh, will be confirmed after the audit by company officials from Ludhiana.
This incident has raised concerns about the security of commercial establishments in the area, especially during the late-night and early-morning hours when they are most vulnerable. The police are likely to review security protocols as part of their probe to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
