In a brazen overnight operation, burglars targeted an entire commercial complex in Ahmedabad, looting five different shops and making off with cash and valuables estimated to be worth around two lakh rupees. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local business community in the Thaltej area.
Series of Thefts in a Single Night
The crime spree unfolded at the Anand Complex, located near the Thaltej-Sola Bridge. According to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged with the Vastrapur police, the thefts occurred between the evening of Saturday, December 28, and the morning of Sunday, December 29. A trader, identified as Vishal Madhu, a 30-year-old resident of Thaltej, discovered the break-in at his antique clock manufacturing shop on the first floor when he arrived at around 9:30 am on Sunday.
Madhu and his father had closed their shop at approximately 8 pm on Saturday. Upon returning, they found the shutter lock broken and the lock on the interior glass door smashed. The shop was in disarray, and a quick inventory revealed that a laptop worth about ₹20,000 and a collection of around 500 old coins, no longer in circulation, had been stolen.
Multiple Businesses Targeted, Significant Losses Incurred
Police investigations soon revealed that Madhu's shop was not the only target. Four other establishments within the same complex were burgled in the same time frame, indicating a coordinated effort by the thieves.
The stolen items from the other shops included:
- From a second-floor logistics service shop: A laptop valued at ₹20,000.
- From a ground-floor foreign parcel service outlet: A laptop (₹20,000), a silver temple coin (₹7,000), ₹4,500 in cash offerings, ₹75,000 from a drawer, and silver notes worth ₹2,000.
- From two separate pan parlours on the ground floor: Approximately ₹8,000 in cash and tobacco products worth ₹3,000 from one, and around ₹8,000 in cash and cigarettes worth ₹4,000 from the other.
The cumulative value of the stolen cash, electronics, and other items is estimated to be close to ₹2 lakh.
Police Investigation Underway
The Vastrapur police have registered a case against unknown persons based on the complaint filed by Vishal Madhu on Monday. Authorities are actively pursuing all leads, with a primary focus on scanning CCTV footage obtained from the Anand Complex and the surrounding areas to identify the culprits.
The audacious scale of the burglary, hitting multiple businesses in one complex, has raised concerns about security in commercial precincts. The police are urging other business owners to review their security measures, especially during holiday periods.
