Thieves broke into the house of a Radio Branch Inspector in Danish Hills View Colony, Bhopal, and escaped with gold and silver jewelry worth ?20 lakh and ?20,000 in cash.

The incident occurred while the family was away at their government accommodation in Radio Colony, Bhadbhada, since December 31.The theft came to light when Inspector Narottam Chauhan and his family returned home on Saturday night. They discovered the main gate lock broken and the cupboard inside ransacked.

The locker was forced open, and valuable items, including several necklaces and a jewelry box, were missing. Some discarded boxes and polythene bags were found scattered inside the house.

Inspector Chauhan’s family immediately alerted the Kolar police, who registered an FIR around 11:30 p.m. Forensic experts inspected the crime scene, and an investigation was launched.The house, located in Danish Hills View Colony, is part of a posh residential area in Bhopal that becomes largely deserted after evening, making it an easy target for burglars.

Despite the high-profile location, which includes the personal residence of BJP state president VD Sharma nearby, no CCTV footage of the crime scene has been recovered so far.

Police suspect the theft took place over four days while the family was away. They are now reviewing CCTV footage from nearby cameras to trace any movements of the suspects during this period.

Additional DCP Malkit Singh stated that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the thieves. The police, in collaboration with the crime branch, are analyzing evidence and scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity. Singh expressed confidence that the culprits would soon be tracked down and brought to justice.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of even the most secure neighborhoods in Bhopal. Authorities are urging residents to take extra precautions, especially during extended absences, to avoid similar incidents.