19-year-old car showroom worker arrested for Rs 2.5 crore theft

Indore: A 19-year-old youth who was working at a car showroom in Indore for nearly a year allegedly used his familiarity with the premises to steal a gold canopy, a diamond-studded crown, silver coins and an Apple iPhone, worth around Rs 2.5 crore.Lasudia police arrested the accused on Saturday and recovered the stolen property.The theft came to light on Wednesday when Surendra Chaudhary, operations manager of Patel Motors on AB Road, lodged a complaint with Lasudia police alleging that an Apple iPhone, a gold canopy and diamond-studded crown belonging to Khodiyar Mata temple, and 12 silver coins kept inside the showroom owner’s cabin had gone missing. A case under Section 305(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered and an investigation launched.Considering the value of the stolen articles, a special team scrutinised CCTV footage, analysed technical evidence and questioned employees. During the probe, suspicion fell on Lucky Borasi, a resident of Kali Tanki in Badi Gwaltoli, who had been employed at the showroom for the past one year.According to DCP Aman Singh Rathore, the accused knew where the keys were kept and was aware that very few employees would be present in the morning.

During questioning, Borasi allegedly confessed to stealing the iPhone and later opening the owner’s locker to take away the gold canopy, diamond-studded crown and silver coins.Police said the accused hid the crown and canopy at his maternal grandparents’ house in Kodariya near Mhow, while keeping the iPhone and silver coins with himself. Investigators said he had broken a portion of the gold canopy and sold some of it, and efforts were underway to recover the missing part.

The combined weight of the gold canopy and diamond-studded crown is about 1.426 kg.Police recovered the stolen articles and also seized a motorcycle from the accused. The total value of the recovered property has been pegged at around Rs 2.5 crore. Police have obtained his remand and are questioning him to ascertain whether anyone else had knowledge of or involvement in the crime.