CANACONA
Panic spread in Canacona after an alert goldsmith stopped eight robbers from breaking into his jewellery shop next to his house at Chaudi-Canacona early on Tuesday. Residents were shocked that police on night patrol, who rushed to the spot after being alerted by goldsmith Praveen Vernekar, came face-to-face with the gang but failed to catch them. The robbers threw stones at the policemen and escaped into the dark.
THE INCIDENT
The incident took place at about 2.30 am when the eight robbers tied a rope to the main door of Vernekar’s house from outside to trap the family inside. “We heard loud sounds outside. I looked through the window but saw nothing,” Vernekar told reporters.
“A little later, we heard the shutter being lifted and realised someone was trying to break into my jewellery shop.”
Vernekar alerted the police, and two patrol personnel nearby reached quickly. They later informed him that they tried to catch the robbers, but the gang ran towards a dark spot and began throwing stones before fleeing.
The police untied the rope from the house door and let the family step out. Backup was called, and teams searched Chaudi, the KTC bus stand, the railway station and the Polem checkpost, but the robbers were not found.
INVESTIGATIONS
At the shop, police found the robbers had come prepared. They had broken the locks and lifted the shutter using two iron rods and a pickaxe. They had also sprayed black paint on three CCTV cameras covering different angles of the shop to block footage.
Police recovered the tools, spray can and empty food packets from the site. Though the shutter was broken, the gang could not enter the shop and abandoned the attempt after spotting the patrol team.
A dog squad and forensic team visited the spot on Tuesday morning to search for clues and collect fingerprints.
SHOCK AND PANIC
The incident caused panic in Canacona, especially after a dacoity in Baina-Vasco a week earlier, where gold and cash worth around Rs 35 lakh were looted. Residents and shopkeepers feared they could also be targeted. Vernekar said police had patrolled the area barely two hours before the break-in attempt.
Residents demanded stronger patrolling and questioned how the robbers reached the central Chaudi area without being noticed.
“How did the robbers reach the shop without being seen? Are the police really patrolling?” asked one resident.
SECURITY LAPSE?
Locals said the incident showed a security lapse just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to unveil a 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Rama at Partagali-Canacona on November 28.
