Robbers flee with diamonds worth ₹25 cr in Gujarat heist

THE diamond heartland of Surat was rattled by one of the biggest heists in recent years after burglars broke into a private diamond company's facility in Kapodra area, making short work of a heavy safe with gas cutter, and vanished with diamonds worth over ₹25 crore, cash, and CCTV-DVRs — thus leaving little trace.

- DILIP SINGH KSHATRIYA @ Ahmedabad

The crime was timed to perfection. Taking advantage of a three-day holiday shutdown, the gang struck the factory on the fourth floor of a building in Kapoorwadi, on the night of August 15. Before forcing their way in, they disabled the fire alarm from outside the unit so that no sirens are triggered when they brought out the gas cutter. What aided the heist was the absence of CCTV cameras on the floor, a glaring loophole for a business holding diamonds worth crores.