Theft at high-rise despite tight security

Making a mockery of round-the-clock security at posh gated high-rises, the 12th floor apartment of an entrepreneur was burgled on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Goods worth about R8 lakh were missing, the police said. Leena Dhankhar reports.

Making a mockery of round-the-clock security at posh gated high-rises, the 12th floor apartment of an entrepreneur was burgled on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Goods worth about R8 lakh were missing, the police said.

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The victim, Shweta Gupta (name changed on request), is a resident of Ridgewood Estate in DLF City Phase IV. She had left around 10pm on Friday and stayed back at her new flat on Golf Course Road when the theft took place. When she returned home on Saturday morning around 8 am, she found the front door open.

Surprisingly, police said, no locks were found to be broken and it seemed the criminals had access to the keys. Even the cupboards had been opened without tampering with the locks. The police officials suspect a support staff or a maid could be involved.

"I have been staying at the Ridgewood Estate for the past 10 years and had never heard of any such incident. It looked as if someone knew everything about the house and had all the keys, including of the locker," Gupta said.

"I do not keep cash at home but due to a puja and small function at our new home, my parents gave me cash and some jewellery that was kept in the locker," she added.

As part of security measures, all flats in Ridgewood Estate have access cards to enter the building and guards are deployed at all entrances. However, CCTVs have been installed only in lifts.

Colonel (retired) Ashok Lekha said, "We have a tight security cover. No one can enter a building without residents' permission. Hence, it seems to be the work of an 'insider'. We also plan to install CCTVs at other spots in the society".

As part of investigations, the Gurgaon police have screened finger prints from the house. The victim's driver, maid and security guards will also be interrogated.

"Some known person is involved in the theft. We will crack the case soon and arrest the accused," said Hardeep Hooda, SHO, Sector 29 police station.