Woman Arrested for Stealing Rs.31 Lakh Jewellery from Bank of Baroda Locker in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: In a major breakthrough, Ghaziabad police have arrested Priya Garg, a 30-year-old woman, for stealing gold and silver jewellery worth approximately ₹31 lakh from Bank of Baroda Locker in Modinagar. The theft, which occurred two months ago, came to light after a bank customer filed a complaint.
The stolen jewellery, consisting of gold and silver items, was recovered from Priya Garg’s home in Adarsh Nagar on Saturday. Her husband, Nitin Garg, who is also a prime suspect, is currently absconding. The couple, parents to three children, had a locker at the same bank branch where the theft took place.
How the Theft Happened
The case began when Isha Goyal, a customer of the bank, discovered her jewellery was missing and filed a complaint on October 25. She reported that nearly 466.5 grams of gold (40 tolas) and 583–700 grams of silver (50-60 tolas) had disappeared from her locker.
During the investigation, police learned that on October 19, a day before the Karva Chauth festival, Isha Goyal had forgotten to properly lock her locker after visiting the bank. Priya Garg and her husband, whose locker was next to Goyal’s, noticed this mistake. Instead of alerting the bank staff, they stole the jewellery and left the bank.
Bank of Baroda Locker Investigation and Arrest
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gyan Prakash Rai explained that the police reviewed the CCTV footage from the bank. Initially, suspicion fell on the bank staff, but the footage showed Priya Garg and her husband acting suspiciously.
- The video captured the couple leaving the locker room with a bag.
- Priya Garg exited the bank quickly, while Nitin Garg stayed inside for a few more minutes to avoid suspicion.
Upon questioning, Priya Garg confessed to the crime. She admitted that she had tried to sell the stolen jewellery to a jeweller in Meerut but was unsuccessful.
Jewellery Recovered
Following the confession, police conducted a search at Priya Garg’s residence and recovered 361 grams of gold and 1.029 kilograms of silver. This recovery confirmed the stolen items belonged to Isha Goyal. While Priya Garg is in police custody, her husband, Nitin Garg, remains on the run. The police have launched a search operation to arrest Nitin Garg and bring him to justice. According to the police, the theft occurred because of a momentary lapse—Isha Goyal forgetting to lock her locker. The suspect couple seized the opportunity, leading to a theft worth lakhs.
The Bigger Picture
The case highlights the importance of ensuring lockers are properly secured after use. It also serves as a reminder for banks to enhance their security measures, including stricter surveillance and regular checks of locker rooms. The Ghaziabad police’s swift action, along with detailed CCTV analysis, played a key role in solving the case and recovering the stolen valuables.
