Safe & sorry -- Vatsa break-in flummoxes all
Pranati Mehra

August 16: Police are investigating a break-in in the premises of Vatsa Industries at Parekh Building, Opera House, which took place on the night of August 3-4, when the strongroom, which houses about 1,600 lockers of various sizes, was opened by an intruder. Vatsa's safes cater to mainly the diamond traders in the area who need lockers round-the-clock to keep valuables like gems and jewellery, or cash. Panchratna, the hub of the trade, is located opposite Parekh Building.

Though the alleged intruder broke open only one locker, and some important papers are missing, the incident has shaken depositors. The lock to the main shutter appears to have been broken open, as was the door outside the strongroom. The safe containing the keys of the strongroom was broken open as well. The intruder, after getting access to the strongroom, managed to cut open one (individual) steel locker, containing only some papers.

The depositors have, meanwhile, received letters from the company to check their belongings and remove them before the police finally seal the place for a thorough investigation.

The company had reduced the time for operating the lockers from 24 hours to about 12 hours last year.

The incident is not the first of its kind. Last year, three traders had reported that diamonds were missing from their lockers. In one case, the trader allegedly reported gems worth Rs 2.5 crore missing. And though only three of them went to the police, seven traders had claimed to have lost valuable property over a period of two/three months, in incidents which were starkly similar.

And while the police have not been able to crack that case, there being no proof of what valuables any depositor puts in or removes, the latest incident is unlikely to fade so easily.

While some traders also said in the latest case, the keys to the door outside the strongroom were lying in a drawer in the office (outside the strongroom), company employees were not too sure. One employee told Newsline that the door had been broken open, while another said the keys to the door were missing, so they were presumably used. But the door is slightly damaged, both confirmed.

The theft is being presumed to have taken place at night, when Vatsa's security guards are not around. There are only two guards from 9 am to 9 pm, a company official revealed.

About three months ago, Vatsa changed the security agency, because some petty thefts were noticed in the office, insiders say. Why the round-the clock-security was reduced to merely 12 hours, is not clear.

What is most intriguing, however, is how the intruder or his accomplices could have broken open a huge lock on the shutter, when the premises is located on the main road, in a locality which is heavily guarded. The Tribhovandas showroon is a stone's throw away, and even Panchratna has jewellery shops on the ground floor which are heavily guarded. Police patrol vehicles usually pass the road at least once every night.

Assistant Police Inspector Vadke of the D B Marg police station, who is investigating the case, was not available for comment.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.