In a brazen daylight robbery that has shocked the Seawoods-Nerul area, three unidentified men disguised in burqas targeted a prominent jewellery store on Monday morning, making off with gold ornaments worth approximately Rs 25 lakh. The audacious crime took place barely a stone's throw away from a local police outpost, highlighting the criminals' daring.
The Brazen Daylight Heist: A Minute-by-Minute Account
The incident unfolded at the Sangam Gold jewellery store, located within the Neelkanth Pride society in Sector 42A, Seawoods-Nerul. At around 10:45 am, three individuals entered the store, their identities concealed by burqas. Store owner Sunil Sharma (42), initially mistaking them for female customers, was quickly confronted with a terrifying reality.
One of the assailants pointed a pistol at Sharma, threatening to kill him if he raised an alarm. While the armed robber kept the jeweller at bay, the two other accomplices swiftly emptied the display cases of all gold ornaments. They also seized Rs 35,000 in cash available at the counter. The robbers interrogated Sharma about additional stock, to which he replied that all items were on display. Before fleeing, they forced him into a back room and warned him not to emerge until they had left the premises.
Police Launch Massive Manhunt
As soon as the coast was clear, Sharma rushed out shouting for help. The entire sequence was captured by the store's CCTV surveillance system. Footage revealed the three robbers escaping in a waiting car, driven by a fourth accomplice who had been keeping watch outside.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone-2) Mayur Bhujbal confirmed that an FIR has been registered at the NRI Coastal Police Station. The four unidentified accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for robbery and robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt, along with provisions of the Indian Arms Act.
A significant investigation detail emerged: the car's registration number was captured on CCTV, but authorities suspect the robbers may have used a fake number plate. Furthermore, since the pistol was not fired, investigators are considering the possibility that it was a fake weapon. These aspects will be confirmed upon the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the stolen goods.
Multi-Pronged Investigation and Key Challenges
ACP Bhujbal stated that a massive search operation is underway. Four police teams from the detection branch and one team each from all four crime branch units have been formed to trace the robbers. Police are meticulously scanning street CCTV footage to track the escape route of the vehicle.
Jeweller Sunil Sharma has estimated the loss at around 250 grams of gold ornaments, valued at roughly Rs 25 lakh. He has been instructed by police to submit a precise inventory list. This list must include details such as the type, weight, purity, and any unique identification marks of the stolen ornaments, supported by original purchase bills and valuation certificates.
The robbery's location, in the vicinity of a police chowkie, has raised serious questions about security in the area. The fact that the perpetrators used burqas as a disguise complicated immediate identification, as their faces were fully covered and they communicated only in Hindi during the crime.
