Udupi: Thieves broke into a house at Aftab Manzil on Deen Street in Nadsalu village and escaped with gold jewellery weighing about 70 pavans, valued at approximately ₹48 lakh, along with a Rado wristwatch worth ₹50,000. The burglary reportedly took place on Tuesday night and came to light the following morning.

Burglars force open lock and iron cupboard

According to police, the burglars gained entry by breaking open the door lock of the house. After entering the premises, they allegedly forced open an iron cupboard and the locker inside it, from where they stole the gold ornaments and the wristwatch.

Police officials said the manner in which the locks and cupboard were broken indicated a well-planned burglary, with the accused appearing to have prior knowledge of the valuables stored in the house.

Incident discovered on Wednesday morning

The burglary came to light on Wednesday morning when a woman residing in the house returned and noticed signs of forced entry. She had reportedly locked the house and gone to her daughter’s house, which is located within the same premises, on the evening of January 27.

When she returned the next morning, she found the main door lock broken and the house ransacked. On checking the cupboard and locker, the family realised that the gold jewellery and wristwatch were missing, following which the police were informed.

Family members away at the time of theft

Police said that at the time of the incident, the house owner’s daughter-in-law had gone to her mother’s house. The owner’s son, who usually resides abroad, was in Dubai and had reportedly travelled to China on business when the burglary occurred.

Investigators are examining whether the burglars were aware that the house was unoccupied during the night, which may have facilitated the crime.

CCTV system stolen, alerts missed

It has also been reported that the house was fitted with a CCTV surveillance system that operated using a SIM card. The burglars allegedly removed and stole the CCTV unit along with the SIM card to avoid identification.

Sources said the alerts from the CCTV SIM were linked to the son’s mobile number. However, his phone was reportedly out of network range at the time of the incident due to his travel abroad, resulting in the alerts going unnoticed. Police are examining whether any footage was uploaded to a cloud server before the system was disabled.

Densely populated area raises concern

The theft has caused concern among local residents, as the house is located in a densely populated area with several houses in close proximity. Residents said the incident has created a sense of insecurity, especially since the burglary occurred without anyone noticing suspicious activity during the night.

Local residents have urged the police to increase night patrolling and surveillance in residential areas to deter such crimes.

Senior police officials inspect scene

Following the incident, Udupi district Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhu D T, Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali and Padubidri Police Station Inspector Shaktivela visited the spot and conducted a detailed inspection.

They were accompanied by fingerprint experts, a dog squad and a special team of scientific experts, who examined the scene for clues. Police collected fingerprints, tool marks and other forensic evidence from the house.

Special teams formed to crack case

Police have formed three special teams to investigate the burglary and trace the accused. Officials said the teams are analysing CCTV footage from nearby houses and establishments, checking call detail records and verifying the movement of suspicious persons in the area around the time of the incident.

Investigators are also looking into similar burglary cases reported in nearby areas to ascertain whether the same gang could be involved.

Police appeal for public cooperation

Police have appealed to the public to share any information that could help in identifying the burglars. Residents have been advised to report suspicious movements and to ensure that houses left unoccupied are secured with adequate safety measures.

Officials have also suggested that homeowners consider additional security measures such as cloud-linked CCTV systems, alarm systems and coordination with neighbours when travelling or leaving houses locked for extended periods.

Conclusion

The high-value burglary has once again highlighted the vulnerability of residential houses, particularly when occupants are away. As police intensify efforts to crack the case, residents hope that the stolen jewellery will be recovered and the accused brought to justice at the earliest, restoring a sense of safety in the neighbourhood.