Mangaluru: An FIR has been registered after a woman lodged a complaint at the Panambur Police Station stating that her gold jewellery and mobile phones were stolen while she was swimming at the beach during a visit to the city.
Tourist reports theft during beach outing
According to the complaint, the woman, identified as 24-year-old Swati Nandipalli, had travelled to Mangaluru with her friend Rohith Vemmaletti for a leisure trip and the two had checked into a lodge in the city. On 24 November, after having breakfast, they proceeded to Panambur beach, where they entered the sea for swimming.
Before stepping into the water, Swati placed her valuables—including a gold chain weighing 12 gm, a locket of 2 gm, two rings of 2 gm each, earrings weighing 4 gm, her mobile phone valued at around ₹18,000, and Rohith’s mobile phone worth around ₹85,000—inside a black bag and left it on the shore.
Upon returning, she discovered that the bag was missing, following which she approached the police to file a complaint.
Stolen valuables worth over ₹3.33 lakh
Based on her statement, the stolen gold jewellery weighed a total of 22 gm and is estimated to be worth about ₹2.30 lakh. Including the two stolen mobile phones, the total value of the missing items comes to approximately ₹3.33 lakh.
Police officials said that CCTV footage from the beach area captured a man stealing the black bag. The footage has become a key component of the investigation as the police attempt to identify and trace the suspect.
Police launch investigation using CCTV clues
Investigators are reviewing the footage frame-by-frame to establish the sequence of events and determine how the suspect moved within and out of the beach zone. Teams have also been assigned to verify whether the accused used any vehicle, interacted with others nearby, or exited toward specific localities.
Police are checking with nearby shops, vendors, and lifeguards to gather additional information that may help widen the search. Investigators are also verifying if the suspect has been involved in similar thefts reported earlier along the coastal belt.
Officials said that mobile phone tracking units have been alerted, although both devices were reportedly switched off after the theft. The gold items, meanwhile, are being tracked through pawn brokers and jewellery buyers in the region in case the suspect attempts to sell them.
Rising concerns over beachside thefts
The incident has brought renewed attention to thefts reported at popular beaches, particularly during peak hours when crowds are larger and tourists are more vulnerable. While Panambur beach has CCTV surveillance and patrol units, police have acknowledged that opportunistic thefts continue to occur when visitors leave valuables unattended.
Authorities are expected to increase patrolling during weekends and tourist season. Visitors are also being advised to avoid leaving valuables on the shore and to make use of lockers or secure storage options where available.
Conclusion
The FIR marks the beginning of a focused investigation into the theft, with police relying on CCTV evidence to identify the suspect. With stolen items valued at over ₹3.33 lakh and a clear view of the offender captured on camera, authorities remain hopeful of a breakthrough soon.