On most mornings in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, the quiet of tree-lined streets is broken only by the sound of traffic and the routines of everyday life. But one such routine recently took an unsettling
turn, reminding residents across Bengaluru that home safety often depends on more than trust alone.
A major theft case in the neighbourhood has once again brought attention to the risks of employing domestic help without proper background checks, a concern that police say is becoming increasingly relevant in the city.
When familiarity turns into vulnerability
The case centres on the house of Abhishek, a resident of Sadashivanagar. For nearly four years, a woman named Hazira Begum worked in his home as a domestic help. In 2024, she left the job, only to return on December 27, 2025. By then, Hazira had married Shabbir, and both of them began visiting the house together.
What seemed like a normal continuation of a familiar arrangement soon took a darker turn.
Just three days after Hazira re-joined work, Abhishek and his family left for a trip to Tamil Nadu on December 30. With the house empty, Hazira and Shabbir allegedly used the house key to enter the premises and steal nearly 900 grams of gold jewellery.
The theft came to light the next day, December 31, when the family returned and discovered the valuables missing.
A swift police response
Abhishek immediately filed a complaint at the Sadashivanagar police station. Acting quickly, the police registered a case, launched an investigation, and tracked down the accused.
Hazira Begum and Shabbir, originally from West Bengal, were arrested soon after. The police recovered the entire quantity of stolen jewellery, valued at around Rs 1.37 crore. Abhishek later expressed his gratitude to the police for their swift action in solving the case and retrieving the valuables.
A pattern the city can’t ignore
While this incident ended with a successful recovery, it has reopened a wider discussion about domestic security in Bengaluru. Police say this is not an isolated case.
In recent months, there has been a noticeable rise in thefts involving domestic workers — including maids, cooks and drivers many of whom are hired without formal verification.
What unsettles residents the most is that in several cases, the accused were not strangers. They were people who had worked in the house for months or even years, slowly becoming part of the household routine before committing the crime.
In this case too, Hazira had been a trusted employee for four years, making the alleged betrayal all the more shocking.
Why verification matters more than trust
Security experts say incidents like these underline a simple truth, familiarity cannot replace verification. While most domestic workers are honest, relying only on personal trust leaves homes vulnerable.
Police and safety specialists recommend a few essential precautions for every household. These include completing police verification for all domestic staff, installing CCTV cameras in common areas, and avoiding the habit of handing over house keys to workers.
They also advise keeping valuables such as gold jewellery in bank lockers instead of at home, and being careful about discussing travel plans or financial matters in front of domestic staff.
A reminder for a city on the move
Bengaluru is a city where busy lifestyles have made domestic help a necessity for many families. But as this case shows, convenience must be balanced with caution.
Following the Sadashivanagar incident, police have once again urged residents to use official channels to verify domestic workers before hiring and whenever staff change. They stress that verification is not about suspicion, but about building a safer environment for everyone.
For a city that never slows down, this episode serves as a quiet reminder, protecting one’s home is not just about locks and alarms, but about the small, often overlooked steps that keep trust secure.
