Jewellery worth Rs 1 crore burgled

Diamond and gold jewellery estimated to be worth Rs 1 crore was burgled from a jewellery production company located in the customs notified area at Seepz in Andheri MIDC. Police suspect the incident occurred sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning.

The company, Shankar Jewels, takes export orders from Europe and USA and is also involved in moulding and designing ornaments. There are several units in the one-storeyed building of the company where ornaments, in different stages of completion, are kept. Gems weighing 10 kg in all were burgled.

Incidentally, the area is a high-security zone with no outsiders allowed inside, not even cops. Police suspect insider involvement and are questioning staffers of the company.

Shankar Jewels is located in block G-15 of the Gem & Jewellery Complex-II. Around 9.30 pm on Saturday, staffers left for home and the premises were locked. The following day was an off for employees.

"We suspect there are at least two or more burglars involved," said zonal DCP J Naiknavre. "The accused gained entry into the company through the toilet. One of them cut the wire mesh on the toilet windows and slipped in. He then walked into the reception area, from where he got hold of keys to the main entrance. Using the keys, he opened the main entrance and let in the rest of the accused."

Police believe the burglars knew the premises very well including the fact that the keys would be at the reception desk.
"Shankar Jewels has no security of its own. It’s surprising that the guards deployed by Seepz at all gates and those patrolling inside did not notice anything amiss. People without proper I- cards are not allowed into Seepz,” Naiknavre said.

Shankar Jewels has 166 employees, whose records will be provided to the police. The police are probing if any of the employees have gone missing.

"The firms’s managing director, Rajiv Pandya, informed us about the burglary around 10.30 on Monday. A complaint of housebreaking has been lodged," an officer said.