Sticky fingered: Jeweller robbed of Rs2 million worth of gold

Group of women clad in burqas stole gold bangles from a shop in Sarrafa Bazaar

SUKKUR: A jeweller in Sarrafa Bazaar, Sukkur, was robbed of gold ornaments worth Rs2 million by three women on Sunday evening.

Three women, clad in burqas, visited the shop of Baboo Abdul Ghani in Sarrafa Bazaar. The women asked the shopkeeper to show them new designs of necklaces and bangles and the shopkeeper took out several pieces and put them on display. According to the shopkeeper, one woman was discussing various designs with him, while the other two were selecting different bangle designs.

After around half-an-hour of inspecting various designs of jewellery, the women left, claiming they did not like any of the designs. After 15 minutes, the shopkeeper realised a box of gold bangles was missing and rushed out of the store to look for the women, but could not find them. Later, after informing the police, the shopkeeper also informed the office bearers of the Sarrafa union, who rushed to his shop, along with the B Section SHO and City ASP Mohammad Essa Sukhera.

The shopkeeper informed the police about the incident and claimed that the box also contained around 40 tolas of gold, which is worth Rs2 million. Sarrafa Association president Jawed Memon told The Express Tribune that this was third such incident in the last two months. "All the crimes have been committed by women in burqas and therefore it is very difficult to judge whether the women are real customers or thieves," he said.

Sukkur SSP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh said it was not the fault of either the police or the private guards deployed by the Sarrafa Association. "This particular incident is neither an act of theft nor robbery, rather it is an act of cheating," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2016.