Bantwal: Burglars broke into a house belonging to Prakash at Goremar near Pacchinadka and escaped with gold ornaments, cash and a silver idol in an incident reported under the jurisdiction of the Bantwal Town police station on Thursday.
According to the complaint lodged with the police, the thieves entered the house after breaking the latch of the front door while the family members were away. The burglars allegedly targeted valuables stored inside cupboards and the prayer room before fleeing from the spot.
Police said the accused stole three pairs of gold earrings weighing around 16 grams and three gold rings weighing approximately 18 grams. The stolen gold ornaments are collectively estimated to be worth around Rs 4.13 lakh.
Apart from the jewellery, the burglars also decamped with Rs 65,000 cash that had been kept inside a locker placed in a cupboard within the house.
Silver idol and offering box cash stolen
According to police sources, the burglars also entered the prayer room of the house and allegedly stole a silver idol of Lord Krishna valued at nearly Rs 20,000.
In addition, around Rs 5,000 cash kept inside the offering box in the prayer room was also reported missing after the burglary.
Investigators suspect that the accused may have closely observed the house before carrying out the theft, as the family members were not present at the residence when the incident occurred.
Police said the burglary appears to have taken place during the absence of the occupants, allowing the accused enough time to search the premises thoroughly.
Family was away when burglary occurred
Sources stated that Prakash was employed at a bakery in Kerala and used to visit his hometown only once every month.
Meanwhile, due to school holidays, his wife and children had reportedly travelled to Shivamogga, leaving the house locked and unattended for several days.
The incident came to light after a neighbour noticed that the front door of the house was open under suspicious circumstances. The neighbour immediately informed the family members, following which the matter was brought to the notice of the police.
After receiving information about the incident, officers from the Bantwal Town police station rushed to the spot and conducted a preliminary investigation.
Police inspect scene and begin investigation
Town Police Inspector Anantha Padmanabha visited the house along with fingerprint experts and other police personnel to inspect the scene of the crime.
Police officials examined the damaged front door, cupboards and other areas inside the house for evidence. Fingerprint experts also collected possible forensic clues from the spot as part of the investigation.
Authorities are suspected to be verifying whether the burglary was carried out by habitual offenders operating in the region. Investigators are also gathering information about suspicious movements reported in the locality during recent days.
Police are expected to examine nearby CCTV footage from roads and neighbouring areas to identify the accused persons involved in the theft.
Residents in the locality expressed concern over the burglary and urged the police to intensify night patrolling and surveillance in residential areas to prevent such incidents.
The Bantwal Town police have registered a case and further investigation is underway to trace the burglars and recover the stolen valuables.