A 19-year-old farm labourer has been arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly breaking into a jewellery shop by digging through a wall and stealing ornaments worth Rs 1.75 lakh, police said on Saturday.
The
accused, identified as Ashwin Khadiya, was arrested by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of Ahmedabad City Police. The burglary took place in the early hours of January 8 at a jewellery shop located in Sagar Apartment, according to a report by the Indian Express.
According to police, the accused did not attempt to enter the shop through its main entrance. Instead, he allegedly bypassed shutters and security systems by breaking through the rear brick wall of the store. Investigators described the method as unusual and labour-intensive.
“Through this narrow breach, Khadiya slipped inside and then vanished into the night with silver ornaments valued at Rs1.75 lakh, leaving behind a scene that baffled many…,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajit Rajian told the Indian Express.
Rather than relying only on physical clues, the crime branch focused on understanding the method used in the theft. Officers reasoned that the person behind the burglary was likely someone accustomed to heavy manual work, such as construction or farm labour, and would seek shelter in nearby labour settlements.
Based on this assessment, police concentrated their search on areas around the Ramol canal and Jamfalwadi. Investigators then combined ground intelligence with technical surveillance to trace the suspect.
“The investigation then worked digital footprints, synchronising feeds from hundreds of CCTV cameras across the Hatkeshwar-Ramol corridor, looking for subtle movement patterns—specifically individuals carrying heavy, concealed loads in the dead of night. By merging this technical surveillance with a network of human informants, the Crime Branch tracked the suspect’s ‘digital breadcrumbs’ with precision,” the statement said.
After narrowing down the suspect, police laid a trap near the Shaktimata Temple in Jamfalwadi. Khadiya was caught while allegedly attempting to move the stolen ornaments.
All the stolen jewellery has been recovered, police said. Further investigation is underway to determine whether the accused was involved in similar offences elsewhere.
