Jewellery Shop Heists: 2 Arrested From Chhattisgarh, Over Rs 12 Lakh Cash, Gold Seized

Berhampur: Police on Sunday cracked the burglary case at two jewellery shops in Badabazar area in Ganjam district and arrested two persons from Chhattisgarh in this connection.

The arrested duo has been identified as Lokesh Srivas (29) of Kabeerdham district and Lokesh Rao (24) of Durg district of Chhattisgarh.

The police recovered Rs 12, 07,060 cash (sale proceed of stolen ornaments), gold ornaments weighing 168.06 grams, a car (purchased from the sale proceed) and a portable grill cutter from the accused.

According to sources, the burglaries were reported at Binod Jewellery Shop and Keshav Jewellery Shop on October, 30, 2020 and December 17, 2020.

After identifying the accused involved in the cases, a police team led by Badabazar IIC reached Kabeerdham district in Chhattisgarh and apprehended the two accused with the assistance of the local police.

The police said both the accused have criminal antecedent in Chhattisgarh. They met each other at Durg Jail in March 2020. As accused Lokesh Rao’s relatives are staying in Berhampur, the duo chalked out plan to loot some jewellery shops and executed their strategy.

Meanwhile after their arrest, the accused were produced in the court of CJM, Kawardha on December 24, 2020 and brought on transit remand.

“They will be produced in the Court of SDJM, Berhampur today. A police team is still present at Chhattisgarh and trying to recover the rest of the stolen property,” Berhampur SP Pinak Mishra said in a statement.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)