Daring Daylight Heist: ₹25 Lakh Worth Jewellery Stolen in Maharashtra's Umbraj
Pune: In a bold and daring move, unidentified thieves carried out a daylight robbery in Umbraj, a town in Karad, Maharashtra, on Monday morning. The thieves made off with a bag containing gold, silver, and cash worth approximately ₹25 lakh from Shri Vagadevi Jewellers. The incident, which occurred around 10 am, was captured on CCTV cameras, causing panic among jewellery traders in the area.
The robbery took place near Chore Road in Umbraj, where Ganesh Yadav, the owner of Shri Vagadevi Jewellers, had just arrived on his motorcycle. As part of his routine, Yadav parked his motorcycle in the shed adjacent to the store and placed a bag containing ornaments and cash on the motorcycle while preparing to open the shop.
However, when Yadav tried to unlock the shutter, he found that an unknown substance had been deliberately inserted into the keyhole, preventing him from opening it. This distraction gave the robbers the perfect opportunity. Two thieves on a motorcycle pulled up near the shed. One of them quickly grabbed the bag from Yadav’s motorcycle and ran back to his accomplice. Within seconds, the duo sped away, executing their escape in a manner locals described as “Dhoom-style,” reminiscent of high-speed chases from action films.
The stolen bag reportedly contained 9 tolas of gold, 5 kg 868 grams of silver, and ₹2.40 lakh in cash, amounting to a total loss of nearly ₹25 lakh. A woman nearby witnessed the theft and immediately alerted Yadav by shouting. He attempted to chase the accused on his motorcycle, but the thieves had already disappeared. Despite several people being present in the vicinity, the swift execution of the crime left bystanders stunned and unable to react in time.
Yadav promptly informed the Umbraj Police, who rushed to the scene. The local crime branch from Satara was also notified. A team from the Local Crime Investigation Branch, along with a dog squad, conducted a spot inspection. Police have collected CCTV footage from the crime scene and nearby routes to trace the suspects. An offence has been registered at the Umbraj Police Station, and further investigation is underway.
Based on the method of execution, police suspect that the accused may have conducted surveillance for two to three days before committing the crime. More than two individuals are believed to be involved in the heist. Residents and traders in Umbraj are now closely watching whether the police will swiftly trace and arrest the suspects.
