The accused repeatedly visited Manglam jewelery shop in Vikas Khand, pretending to select jewelery for his wife.The victim, jeweler Munna Kumar, a resident of Chhota Bharwara near Bhola Chauraha, told police that the accused had contacted him over phone claiming he wanted to exchange his wife’s broken earrings and locket. Though asked to visit the next day, the man arrived at the shop the very same evening.Over the next three days, the accused continued visiting the store, sometimes asking to see different earring designs and at other times inquiring about lockets.On Thursday around 7pm he reached the jewelery shop wearing a mask. When questioned about it, he allegedly told the shopkeeper he was a TB patient and was wearing the mask as a precautionary measure.Police said the accused carefully spent time examining the jewellery. Munna Kumar placed two gold lockets and three pairs of earrings on a tray for display. Taking advantage of a brief moment of distraction, the suspect suddenly grabbed one gold locket and three pairs of earrings before sprinting out of the shop.The jeweler and nearby locals chased him through nearby lanes, but the accused managed to escape.A case has been registered at Gomtinagar extension police station. Inspector Sudhir Awasthi said police are examining CCTV footage and tracing the mobile number used by the accused to identify and arrest him.
