In a significant breakthrough, police arrested Mohammed Shoaib, the primary accused in the Candere showroom burglary, along with two associates who helped sell the stolen jewellery. The arrest followed a meticulous investigation, and a distinct design on Shoaib’s jacket seen in CCTV footage played a crucial role in identifying him.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ravi Kumar Singh confirmed that Shoaib, a known repeat offender with eight cases against him, was arrested along with his associates, Sumit Soni, 30, a resident of Madangir, and Manik Kadam, 42, a resident of Tigri. The two associates were involved in receiving and selling the stolen jewellery.
The robbery occurred on January 29, when the staff at Candere, a Kalyan Jewellers property, arrived in the morning to find shattered display windows and missing jewellery. Police formed a dedicated team led by Inspector Vishnu Dutt to investigate, and forensic experts examined the crime scene. It was found that the burglar had entered the showroom through a broken glass window on the first floor.
CCTV footage from the vicinity revealed that Shoaib had attempted to rob the same location two weeks earlier, on January 14. On that occasion, he tried to enter the showroom through the roof of an adjacent building but failed, later stealing Rs26,200 from a nearby baby-products store.
Shoaib, who had been released on bail in November 2023, had checked in at the CR Park police station on January 28. He then scoped out the showroom and returned to the area on the night of January 29. After buying and consuming alcohol, Shoaib meticulously executed the burglary around midnight, entering the showroom through a washroom window. He spent over four hours inside, smashing display cases and carefully taking jewellery before escaping in the same manner.
The stolen items have been recovered, and the investigation continues.
