4 held for distraction-based theft at jewellery showroom in Lko

The arrests were made on Saturday for the theft which took place on December 11. The quartet allegedly stole two diamond-studded bangles from the showroom, officials said.

Four accused aged between 33 and 75 were arrested for stealing diamond jewellery from a Tanishq showroom in Gomti Nagar using a distraction-based theft method, police said on Sunday. The arrests were made on Saturday for the theft which took place on December 11. The quartet allegedly stole two diamond-studded bangles from the showroom, they added.

The accused had allegedly stolen two diamond-studded bangles from the showroom. (For representation)

Senior officers reviewed CCTV footage and activated surveillance inputs. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the crime and surveillance units of the eastern zone, along with Gomti Nagar police, arrested the accused near Gwari bridge on Saturday and recovered four diamond-studded bangles, Gomti Nagar SHO BC Tiwari said.

Describing their modus operandi, police said the accused -- members of an inter-state gang from Maharashtra -- targeted high-end jewellery showrooms and posed as customers. Instead of entering together, they would split into individuals or pairs and enter the store at short intervals. While some would engage sales staff with repeated queries, others would keep a watch on counters and drawers.

Deputy commissioner of police (east) Shashank Singh said that once staff attention was diverted, one of the accused would discreetly open a counter drawer and remove jewellery from the display tray. “The theft would take only a few seconds, and the group would leave before the staff realised anything was missing,” he said.