A househelp in Bengaluru was recently arrested for stealing jewellery and cash worth Rs 60 lakh over six months. The theft was discovered when Vikram Vaidyanathan, Managing Director of Matrix Partners India, returned from a vacation in France to find nearly all their valuable jewellery missing. An FIR was filed, and after investigating all seven employees present during the family’s absence, authorities arrested the househelp, Divya, her aunt Manju, and an accomplice named Johan.
The investigation revealed that Divya was the primary suspect as she had exclusive access to the room where the valuables were kept. She confessed to the theft during questioning, admitting to stealing pieces gradually over six months. She passed the stolen items to Manju, who sold them and shared the proceeds with Divya. Manju transferred the jewellery to Johan, who sold them to gold finance companies and pawnbrokers, taking a 10% commission.
Upon her confession, the police recovered most of the stolen items from various shops, except for one ornament still missing. Additionally, a branded wristwatch worth Rs 6 lakh, which Divya had kept for herself, was recovered from her home. The exact amount of cash stolen remains uncertain due to the theft occurring over several months.
This incident highlights the importance of vigilant background checks and monitoring of domestic help to prevent such thefts.