In a bizarre twist to a New Year's night burglary in Rajkot, what was initially reported as a major theft of valuables worth nearly Rs 29 lakh turned out to be a far smaller crime. Police discovered that the fleeing burglars left behind a suitcase packed with gold and silver jewellery, making off with only a relatively small amount of cash and two scooters.
The Initial Alarm: A High-Value Theft Reported
The incident unfolded at the residence of 70-year-old Kanti Desai in Khokhaddal village on the outskirts of Rajkot. The burglary occurred around 2 am on New Year night, while Desai and his wife Kanta were away, having stayed overnight at their younger son Mayur's nearby house.
Upon returning home the next morning, Kanti Desai found household items scattered across the premises. He immediately alerted the Aji Dam police. Preliminary investigation revealed that the miscreants had gained entry by breaking the grill and door locks before ransacking the house.
Based on Desai's complaint, police registered a theft case, initially believing that gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 27.95 lakh, along with cash, had been stolen. The scene was sealed, and entry was restricted pending a forensic examination.
A Surprising Discovery During Investigation
The narrative took an unexpected turn during the police investigation. Officers searching the ransacked house found a suitcase lying among the scattered items. To their astonishment, upon opening it, they discovered a hoard of gold and silver jewellery intact inside.
The recovered items included two gold biscuits and nearly two kilograms of silver, all left untouched by the thieves. This discovery drastically changed the scale of the theft.
The Actual Haul: Scooters and Limited Cash
Further verification by the police clarified the actual loss. Police Sub-Inspector Mukesh Movaliya of the DCP Zone-1 Local Crime Branch stated that the thieves had ultimately made away with only Rs 90,000 in cash.
However, the accused did not leave empty-handed. They also fled the scene on two stolen scooters—one belonging to Kanti Desai and another owned by a fellow villager. The investigation into the incident is ongoing as police work to identify and apprehend the culprits behind this unusual burglary in Rajkot.
