Using a cheap way by putting a tag of ‘Do Not Open’ on a wooden cupboard to keep diamond-studded ornaments worth crores safe, proved costly for a diamond polishing unit office in MIDC.
Using a cheap way by putting a tag of ‘Do Not Open’ on a wooden cupboard to keep diamond-studded ornaments worth crores safe, proved costly for a diamond polishing unit office in MIDC.
Their own security guard decamped with ornaments and other valuables worth Rs3.5 crores from the same cupboard last month. The guard was caught by the crime branch officers on Wednesday when he was trying to dispose off the stolen booty.
The arrested person has been identified as Balbhim alias Rajesh alias Sonu Chennale, 22, a diploma holder in Fine Arts and native of Kerur village in Bidar district of Karnataka. “He has been working in the city as a security guard since 2009 and was posted on the duty at MIDC only four days before the theft took place,” the police said.
According to the deputy commissioner of police, Nisar Tamboli, the incident took place on May 15 inside the office of Gitanjali Gems and Jewellery office in MIDC area of Andheri (East). Apart from polished diamond studded ornaments, a laptop and a digital camera were also stolen. The MIDC police and the crime branch were investigating the case.
“As Chennale was missing, he was put under suspicion. A manhunt was launched against him in Mumbai, Pune and Bidar. Acting on a tip-off, he was arrested on Wednesday from Subhash Nagar area in MIDC, when he was trying to dispose off the stolen booty,” said Tamboli.
“The keys of the office were with Chennale, which is why he decided to commit the crime. After pocketing a laptop and a camera, he saw a wooden cupboard, on which a Do Not Open tag was pasted. He got curious and when he opened the cupboard he found a bag containing diamond-studded ornaments worth crores,” Tamboli said.
He added that after committing the theft, Chennale first went to Pune and stayed there in a hotel for few days.
“He later went to Bidar and there he sold four rings for Rs52,000. He tried every possible place, but could not dispose off the booty, as the diamonds could not be sold easily. He then decided to sell them in Mumbai and returned. He used to carry the bag, wherever he went,” Tamboli said.
The police have recovered the entire stolen booty, except the four rings sold by Chennale. “Ahmedabad office of the complainant had closed down, due to which the ornaments were stocked in their MIDC office, since they could not find a suitable place to store the ornaments, they kept in a wooden cupboard and put up a Do Not Open tag on it,” said Tamboli.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}