Pune: A 27-year-old employee of a jewellery showroom in Pimple Gurav fled with 1,865 grams of gold and cash, collectively worth Rs 1.37 crore, sometime between Nov 3 and 8. The theft occurred when the owner went on a pilgrimage.
The owner's brother-in-law lodged a complaint with the Sangvi police on Saturday. Sub-inspector Chakradhar Takbhate of the Sangvi police said the owner runs three showrooms in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. The suspect was looking after his Pimple Gurav showroom for the last five years.
"Every day, the suspect used to collect the keys of the Pimple Gurav showroom from the owner's other showroom in Nigdi. After closing the business, he used to return the keys at the Nigdi showroom," Takbhate said. He said on Nov 3, the owner went on a pilgrimage with his family, confident that his 'trusted man' would take care of the business.
"Between Nov 3 and 6, the suspect followed the routine of collecting keys from Nigdi in the morning and returning them at night. However, on Nov 7, he told the manager at the Nigdi showroom that the next day, he had some work, so he would come to pick up the keys a little late," Takbhate said. The officer said on Nov 8, when the suspect did not turn up until 12pm, the manager of the Nigdi shop started calling him.
But his cellphone was switched off. "The manager then sent an employee with the keys to the Pimple Gurav showroom. The employee found that there were no jewellery items on display, and the safe was empty.
The employee then .