Madurai jewellery heist: quantum of lost valuables decreases to 10 kg gold, 1 kg diamond

Police personnel conducting an inquiry at the showroom from where an unidentified burglar decamped with gold jewellery. | Photo Credit: MOORTHY G A day after representatives of a Tanishq showroom in Madurai complained that 15 kg gold and 3 kg diamond ornaments had been stolen in a heist, they informed the police on Friday that only 10 kg gold and 1 kg diamond ornaments had been looted.The new estimate had been arrived at based on further assessment of the valuables left on display and those retrieved intact from the showroom, Commissioner of Police S. Rajendiran told The Hindu.Around 42 kg jewellery, including diamonds, were on display on the first floor of the newly-inaugurated showroom on Bypass Road.The police suspect that the lone burglar may have decided to steal only as much as he could carry, considering the difficulty in climbing to the top of the lift shaft through which he had entered the premises.The burglar had meticulously accomplished his stealth task by sneaking into the tall building and coming out with the valuables without having not been noticed by anyone.They also suspect that he may have studied the topography of the building.Earlier attemptCCTV footage had also shown the masked man climbing onto the terrace using a scaffolding on the night of November 5. The Commissioner said it may have been a failed burglary attempt.City police are leaving no stone unturned as they have got very little clue except the CCTV footage of the lone burglar collecting the jewellery inside the showroom. The police could not identify him as he had covered his face and had also left no fingerprints by wearing gloves.The police have not ruled out the possibility of an inside job. Special teams are interrogating the employees of the showroom and those involved in its construction, interior design and installation of the lift.“As of now, we have kept our options open,” said Commissioner of Police, S. Rajendiran.“Only an abled body with good recce of the showroom, could have succeeded in such a crime,” said a senior police officer. The burglar had spent some one hour in the early hours of Thursday for his completing his task.Security lapsesMr. Rajendiran said certain lapses in the security arrangements, including the failure to switch on the anti-burglary alarm on Wednesday night and to check CCTV footage, and negligence on the part of the security personnel had gone in favour of the burglar. Published - November 14, 2026 12:18 am IST