In a daring and coordinated burglary, thieves targeted six flats in Rock Garden Housing Complex, located in the Govindpur police station area, on Monday night. The incident has left the residents in a state of shock and raised serious concerns about security in the area.
The theft occurred in the Topaz and Emerald buildings of the complex. The flats targeted belonged to Rakesh Kumar, Padmalochan Mishra, MM Mahato, Anil Kumar Singh, and Ramkumar Sinha, among others. All the flats were locked at the time, as their owners were out of town. Initial estimates suggest that gold jewellery worth over ₹50 lakh and significant amounts of cash have been stolen.
This incident comes just a day after four flats were robbed in Dayal City, another housing complex in Govindpur. The thieves have clearly challenged the authorities, striking again before the police could solve the previous case. Panic has gripped the residents of Govindpur as they fear further thefts and question the effectiveness of police patrolling in the area.
Residents discovered the theft on Tuesday morning when they found the doors of the flats open and belongings scattered inside. One of the victims, Murari Mohan Mahato, who lives in flat number 104 in Emerald, said he was informed about the robbery at 6:30 AM. He rushed to the complex and found that ₹1 lakh in cash and gold jewellery worth over ₹1 lakh were missing from his flat.
City SP Kumar Shivashish rushed to the complex along with other police officials to investigate the incident. CCTV footage from the premises shows five masked thieves entering the apartment. The footage indicates that they deliberately covered their faces to avoid identification.
The SP noted a significant security lapse, pointing out that the apartment lacks a boundary wall and is adjacent to an open forest, making it vulnerable to intrusions. The builder of the complex has been summoned for questioning about the inadequate security arrangements.
Angry residents have accused the builder of negligence. They claim that despite paying hefty maintenance charges, the security infrastructure is substandard. "If the guards were present at the gate, how did the thieves manage to enter? This theft seems to have happened with the connivance of the guards," said one of the residents.
The lack of police patrolling in the area has also been a point of contention. Residents allege that police patrols have ceased in recent months, leaving the area vulnerable to such crimes.
Residents suspect that the theft was premeditated. A few weeks ago, the complex underwent multiple surveys conducted by outsiders, supposedly to assess the property. It is believed that these surveys provided critical information to the thieves about which flats were locked and unoccupied.
Govindpur police, along with the DSP, are actively investigating the case. Efforts are being made to track down the thieves using CCTV footage and other leads. Meanwhile, residents have demanded stronger security measures, including regular police patrolling and better apartment security systems, to prevent such incidents in the future.
The brazen nature of the crime and the scale of the loot have left the entire Govindpur area on edge, highlighting the urgent need for stricter security protocols and more vigilant policing.
Thieves target six flats, loot jewellery and cash worth over Rs 50 Lakh
Wednesday, 29 January 2025 | PNS
| Jamshedpur
Thieves target six flats, loot jewellery and cash worth over Rs 50 Lakh
Wednesday, 29 January 2025 | PNS | Jamshedpur