A daring late-night burglary in the vicinity of the revered Sharadamba Temple has left a family in Udupi's Badagubettu village shaken and poorer by gold ornaments worth a staggering Rs 44.6 lakh. The incident, which saw thieves make off with a significant quantity of jewellery, occurred in the home of a 53-year-old woman.
The Sequence of Events: A Peaceful Night Turns Sour
According to the police complaint, the events unfolded on the night of November 29. The woman's husband returned home from his daily work at around 11:30 PM. After having dinner together, the couple retired to their bedroom, watched television, and eventually fell asleep at approximately 1 AM.
In a detail that may have aided the burglars, the complainant revealed that she did not lock the bedroom door before sleeping. This was done as a considerate measure because her elderly mother-in-law resides in the house, and leaving the door open allowed for easier access in case the older woman needed assistance during the night.
The Shocking Discovery and Stolen Items
The theft came to light the next morning, around 8:30 AM. When the 53-year-old woman opened the sliding door of her bedroom cupboard to select jewellery to wear before heading to church, she was met with a distressing sight. A substantial cache of her gold ornaments was missing.
The stolen property included approximately 368 grams of gold jewellery. In addition to the precious metal, the thieves also took a mobile phone belonging to the complainant's mother-in-law. The complainant further informed the authorities that her daughter lives abroad and that a complete verification of some of the stolen jewellery items is pending; those details will be provided to the police at a later stage.
Police Action and Investigation
Upon being alerted, the Udupi Town police swiftly registered a formal case. The complaint has been filed under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), namely Sections 331(3), 331(4), and 305, which pertain to house-trespass or house-breaking to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment.
The investigation is now active, with officers likely examining the scene for evidence and gathering information about suspicious activities in the Badagubettu village area near the Sharadamba Temple. The case highlights concerns about property crimes in residential localities, even those situated close to prominent and frequently visited places of worship.
