Ponda Police Launch Intensive Investigation into Series of Thefts Targeting Temples and Bungalow
In a disturbing series of criminal incidents, unidentified thieves targeted two revered temples and the bungalow of a former sarpanch on Wednesday night within the jurisdiction of the Ponda police. The police have now intensified their investigation, leveraging available fingerprints and crucial CCTV footage to track down the perpetrators.
Ancient Gold Ornaments Stolen from Shree Bhavani Siddhapurush Temple
The thieves first struck at the Shree Bhavani Siddhapurush temple located in Par-Usgaon. They gained entry by cutting through the window grills and proceeded to loot ancient gold ornaments belonging to the goddess. These precious items were stored in a secure locker inside the garbh griha, or sanctum sanctorum, of the temple. Due to the historical nature of the ornaments, their exact weight and monetary value remain unknown. However, temple committee members estimate the loss could exceed Rs 10 lakh.
In addition to the gold, the criminals broke open the donation box and stole all the cash inside. A CCTV camera captured footage of one thief entering the temple from behind, wearing a helmet to conceal his identity.
Cash Theft at Shree Satyanarayan Temple in Dhavali
In a separate but similar incident, the thieves targeted the Shree Satyanarayan temple in Dhavali. They entered by breaking the lock on the back door and managed to steal approximately Rs 10,000 in cash from the donation box. Fortunately, they were unable to breach the door of the sanctum sanctorum, preventing further damage or theft.
Former Sarpanch's Bungalow Looted of Gold, Cash, and Liquor
The third target was the bungalow of Luis Costa, the former sarpanch of Borim panchayat. The thieves broke the lock of the main door to gain entry. Since no one was present at the time—Costa and his wife work abroad, while his mother and son typically stay at the bungalow but go to their ancestral house at night—the thieves had free rein.
They stole gold ornaments, including chains and earrings, valued at around Rs 1.3 lakh, along with Rs 20,000 in cash from a cupboard. Additionally, they took 20 bottles of foreign liquor, worth approximately Rs 60,000.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
All three thefts were discovered in the morning, prompting immediate action from the Ponda police. Officers rushed to the crime scenes upon being informed and deployed a sniffer dog squad and fingerprint experts to collect evidence. The police are actively investigating whether these thefts were committed by the same team of thieves or by different individuals.
Three separate cases of theft have been officially registered at the Ponda police station as the investigation continues to unfold.
