Hyderabad: 1 kg gold jewellery stolen from export firm in Banjara Hills

Hyderabad: Burglars broke into an export firm's office in the upscale Banjara Hills area and made off with around 1 kg of gold jewellery. The incident came to light on Monday morning when employees arrived to find signs of a forced entry.

The stolen gold is estimated to be worth several lakh rupees. Police officials have not yet disclosed the exact value of the loot.

Break-in at Banjara Hills office

The office belongs to a jewellery export company. According to preliminary reports, the burglars targeted the firm's strongroom or locker where the gold was stored.

Security guards on duty did not report any suspicious activity during the night. Investigators suspect the thieves may have had prior knowledge of the office layout and the location of the valuables.

Police investigation underway

Hyderabad police have registered a case and deployed forensic teams to collect evidence. Fingerprint experts and dog squads were pressed into service at the scene.

Authorities are scanning CCTV footage from nearby buildings and street cameras. They are also questioning employees and security personnel to piece together a timeline of the break-in.

Police have not yet made any arrests. The investigation is in its early stages.

Pattern of such crimes under scrutiny

The theft has raised concerns about security in commercial establishments in Banjara Hills, a high-end locality that houses many businesses and residences.

Local residents and traders have urged police to step up night patrolling. Some have pointed to a recent spate of break-ins in the area, though no official data has been released to confirm a trend.

Police say they are coordinating with the export firm to get a detailed inventory of the stolen items.

What to watch: Investigators are likely to question more staff and analyse digital records to identify suspects. The outcome of the forensic analysis will be crucial in the coming days.