Delhi: Cash, valuables stolen in two other break-ins near French diplomat’s house

On the night the French diplomat’s house was ransacked, two other similar incidents were reported from nearby. While others alleged theft of cash and valuables, not even a single item was reported stolen from the senior diplomat’s house.

Two buildings, three break-ins with similar modus operandi but the similarities end here.

Cash and jewellery were stolen in an adjacent house and the landlady’s house on the first floor. Though the burglars broke into the diplomat’s house, nothing was stolen. (HT FILE)

The French diplomat’s house in south Delhi’s Shanti Niketan was not the only one that reported a break-in last week. On the same night, the flat above the diplomat’s house was also burgled similarly. The following night, a woman from an adjacent house also reported about a similar case. While others alleged theft of cash and valuables, not even a single item was reported stolen from the senior diplomat’s house.

Euro and Dollars were stolen in a house but in the diplomat’s house, the burglars opened the drawers but did not steal any foreign currency lying in it, according to the complaint filed by the diplomat’s husband.

Also, the landlady of the building, who resides on the first-floor, where the French diplomat lives alleged the burglars had ransacked her husband’s official files and her son’s certificates.

Were the burglars searching for anything specific on the night of May 5 at the diplomat’s house? Could the other two break-ins be a cover-up for what exactly happened inside the diplomat’s house?

Police are probing the case but are yet to gather any leads. The diplomat, currently posted in the Embassy of France, refused to comment and said it was her private matter.

According to the French diplomat’s husband’s statement to the police, there was cash (foreign currency too) in the house but it was not stolen. The burglars did not steal any valuables despite laying their hands on the jewellery box — the drawer with valuables was opened but the jewels were left outside.

While police were informed of the two cases, the following night, a similar break-in was reported from an adjacent building. On May 7, burglars broke into Rupa Anand’s house. That night, Rupa was home with her daughter, while her husband was out of station.

“I heard a sound at around 3am but did not get up to check. That morning I woke up and saw the cupboards in the bedroom and dining hall open. The drawers were open. I went upstairs and woke up my daughter. They did not enter my room but went to my husband’s office in the house and took cash and foreign currency too,” said Anand.

Anand said the burglars had also tried breaking the safe but were unsuccessful. “It is scary. It looks like they had lots of time inside our homes. What if they had entered our rooms?” she said.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (south) Chinmoy Biswal said police have received complaints of burglaries and are probing the cases. Police have collected forensic samples of the fingerprints found in the houses and are matching it with her database.