Ancestral safe stolen from flat in Matunga

A heavy ancestral safe measuring around 4 feet by 3 feet that contained jewellery and valuables worth Rs 22.45 lakh was stolen from a second-floor apartment in Matunga on Tuesday while the occupants were out of town.

A heavy ancestral safe measuring around 4 feet by 3 feet that contained jewellery and valuables worth Rs 22.45 lakh was stolen from a second-floor apartment in Matunga on Tuesday while the occupants were out of town.

What has surprised the Mahim police is that even though there are marks on the floor indicating that the accused dragged the heavy safe across the floor, no one, including the neighours, heard or saw them.

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The incident took place at around 4.30am on Tuesday at the second-floor residence of Jigisha Patel at TH Kataria Marg in Matunga. Patel had gone to Surat with her son a week ago to meet her husband who is employed with a diamond firm there, the Mahim police said.

The break-in came to light at around 8am, when Patel’s neighbour Lata Parmar saw the latch on the main door of the house broken. She called the Patels and approached the Mahim police, where a case was registered.

The Patels told the police that the safe had been with them for over 60 years, and contained ancestral jewellery. “The family had planned their son’s marriage this year. Along with the monetary loss, they are shattered as it was family heirloom,” said an officer from the Mahim police.

“We have questioned the domestic maid along with others who knew the family’s schedule,” said sub-inspector B Kadam of Mahim police station. He added that the building did not have any watchmen or CCTV cameras. The police suspect the involvement of at least three persons.