Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur

Kundapur, Jul 6: Burglars broke into a jewellery shop by cutting open its shutter with a gas cutter and decamped with silver bullion and cash sometime between the night of July 4 and the morning of July 5. The incident occurred near the National Highway at Maravanthe.

The theft took place at the jewellery shop owned by Vishwanath Billava, located in Maruthi Complex in Maravanthe village.

Heavy rain on the night of Saturday, July 4, is believed to have aided the burglars in carrying out the theft. Using a gas cutter, they cut through the shop's shutter and gained entry into the premises. They then stole around 600 grams of silver bullion worth approximately Rs 1.44 lac and Rs 1,000 in cash that had been kept in the shop's drawer and cabin before fleeing the scene.

It is also alleged that the burglars damaged CCTV cameras installed in neighbouring shops before carrying out the theft.

Kundapur DySP H D Kulkarni, Byndoor circle inspector Shivakumar, Gangolli police sub-inspectors Pavan Nayak and Sudarshan, along with police personnel, visited the spot on Sunday and conducted an inspection. A technical team and fingerprint experts also visited the scene and collected evidence.

The use of a gas cutter to break open the shop's shutter, the damage caused to CCTV cameras in nearby shops, and the timing of the crime during heavy rainfall prima facie suggest that the theft may have been carried out by professional burglars. However, the exact facts behind the incident will be known only after the police complete their investigation.