According to the police, the theft took place sometime between 10.30 pm on Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday, at manufacturing units number 64 and 70, at Apolla Industries on Mahakali Caves Road in MIDC. Both units were broken into through their roofs after all the workers had left.

“The thief used the same modus operandi in both cases. He broke into the units by cutting a hole in the roof. After entering the units, he decamped with valuables including 3.5 kg of gold powder, gold wires and semi-gold ornaments. These were kept in drawers and the thief seems to have had prior knowledge of where the gold was kept,” said an official from the MIDC police station, who did not wish to be named.

The theft was reported to the police after a worker in one of the units, identified as Hitesh Chajed, came in for work on Saturday morning and realised that the unit had been broken into. He informed his employer, who immediately contacted the police.

“We have registered a house break-in and theft case, in which property worth an estimated Rs 70.13 lakh has been stolen. We suspect an inside hand in the job, as the thief knew exactly where the gold would be stored and the easiest way to enter the units. We have found some fingerprints at the crime scene and are probing the case from all possible angles. We will definitely nab the culprit,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone X, KMM Prasanna.