A recent robbery incident has left the police baffled, and not unsurprisingly, as more than half of the stolen valuables were found 'returned' to the robbed residence a few days later.
A recent robbery incident has left the police baffled, and not unsurprisingly, as more than half of the stolen valuables were found 'returned' to the robbed residence a few days later.
Sources said the incident occurred on January 30 in a building in Borivli's (W) Yogi Nagar. Around 5.30pm, an unknown person allegedly rang the doorbell of the second-floor flat of the 47-year-old victim.
"She said when she opened the door, the person claimed to be an air conditioner repairman. When the victim told him her AC does not need any repair, he threw chilli powder in her eyes," said an officer of the MHB Colony police station.
"The victim claimed she lost consciousness and, on coming to, found a bag containing 305 grams of gold jewellery and cash, all worth Rs9 lakh missing. About 15 minutes after the incident her son is said to have come home, after which the building's watchman was informed," said additional commissioner of police, north region, Kishore Jadhav.
Jadhav added that the case was registered 12 hours later with the MHB police.
Inspector Anil Awhad said, "On Monday, the victim's husband, who works as a diamond trader in south Mumbai, showed up at the police station, claiming to have found the bag containing the jewellery and cash outside his house. It had 130 grams of gold jewellery and Rs48,000 cash, that's over 70% of the stolen property. I have never come across such a case in my 20-year career."
According to Jadhav, the entire episode is suspicious. "If someone threw chilli powder in the victim's eyes, she would have screamed instead of falling unconscious. And how is it that nobody from the neighbouring three flats heard or saw anything when the incident is said to have happened? Next, why was the matter reported to the police after 12 hours and not immediately? And finally, why would the robber take the risk of returning the stolen property a couple of days later? There seems to be more than meets the eye. We are not ruling out involvement of an insider in the case. We are investigating from all possible angles," Jadhav added.
Story Board
On January 30, Unknown person rings doorbell of the second-floor flat of the 47-year-old victim. She opens the door
The man claims to be an AC repairman and then throws chilli powder in the victim's eyes, after which she loses consciousness
The robber then decamps with gold and cash kept in the house
The victim regains consciousness, informs her son and husband about the incident; the matter is reported to the police 12 hours later
On February 2, the victim's husband finds the bag with nearly 70% of stolen property intact outside his house; he then informs the police about it
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