A major jewellery heist in Lucknow has exposed glaring security lapses, with thieves making off with ornaments worth approximately ₹1.5 crore from a showroom located a mere 300 metres from a recently inaugurated police outpost. The incident has triggered outrage among local traders and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of police night patrols in the area.
The Daring Nighttime Robbery
The theft took place on Saturday night at the Fazal Jewellers showroom located in Rabab Market, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Malihabad police station. According to initial reports, the perpetrators expertly cut open the shop's main shutter to gain entry. Once inside, they ransacked the premises and escaped with a significant haul, estimated to be around 30 kilograms of silver and 150 grams of gold jewellery.
The crime went undetected until the early hours of Sunday morning, when the shop owner's nephew noticed the shutter was partially open and immediately alerted the family. Upon arriving at the scene, the owners discovered their showroom in disarray and the valuable inventory missing.
Skilled Operation and Police Investigation
The burglars displayed a high degree of criminal expertise, as described by the victims. "They cut the CCTV camera wires and took away the DVR (Digital Video Recorder), leaving us with no footage from inside the shop," stated Rashid Wali Beg, the elder brother of the shop owner, Yusuf Wali Beg. This deliberate act severely hampered the initial evidence-gathering process.
However, a potential breakthrough emerged from CCTV cameras installed at a neighbouring establishment. These cameras reportedly captured footage of three suspicious youths loitering in the vicinity around the time of the incident, providing the police with a crucial lead.
Law enforcement has swung into action. Additional DCP (West) Gopinath Soni confirmed that multiple police teams are working on the case. "We received information about the theft in the morning. The SHO, along with police teams, forensic experts, dog squad and field units, inspected the spot. CCTV footage is being analysed and the case will be solved soon," he assured.
Community Anger and 48-Hour Ultimatum
The brazen nature of the crime, compounded by its proximity to a security installation, has ignited fury within the local business community. Traders have pointed out the bitter irony that the theft occurred just 300 metres from a police outpost that was inaugurated only 10 days prior to the incident.
Expressing a complete loss of faith in the current security measures, the aggrieved traders have issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to the police authorities. They have warned of launching large-scale protests if the culprits involved in the ₹1.5 crore jewellery theft are not apprehended within the stipulated time frame. This incident has put the city police's night vigil strategy under intense public scrutiny.
