Gold worth Rs 6 lakh looted in Margao

MARGAO, DEC 21
Burglars struck yet again in the commercial capital last night in a big way, looting a residential flat of gold ornaments valued over Rs 6 lakhs, exposing the police machinery’s failure in tackling rising thefts in the city.
The burglars made merry by also lifting away cash of Rs 50,000 from the flat located on the ground floor of the building in the Fatorda locality of the city.
The incident occurred when the Amonkar family had proceeded to their native village at Amona in Quepem taluka day two days ago to celebrate Datta Jayanti.
This morning, the family received a call from a family friend informing that the flat was found open. The family’s worst fears came true after they returned to the city when the flat was ransacked by the miscreants.
House owner Vidya Vinod Amonkar informed that the miscreants lifted away the gold ornaments from the house. She said the miscreants effected entry into the flat by breaking the locks on the iron gate and the door. “The thieves have lifted away all the gold ornaments. The value of the ornaments is over Rs 6  lakhs”, she said.
A small gold item placed near the place of worship was also not spared by the miscreants.
Amonkar said that the miscreants managed to lay their hands on cash of Rs 50,000, part of which belongs to the housing society.
Upon receiving information, the Margao police requisitioned the services of a police dog and finger print experts, but in vain. Sources said the police dog sniffed its way to a distance before loosing track.
Incidentally, put on the backfoot by the daring burglary, Margao police told newsmen that gold ornaments worth Rs 1.20 lakh was stolen from the house, even when the house owner categorically put the loss of ornaments to over Rs 6 lakhs, besides cash of Rs 50,000.
Margao police was apparently baffled over the gold strike by the miscreants and seems to have no clue to the spate of thefts reported in the commercial capital, notwithstanding the recent claims that the police had busted a gang of thieves involved in burglaries.
The rising thefts in the city have once again called for intensified patrolling by the dozen police officers attached to the Margao police station.