BURGLARS STRIKE AT SADOLXEM: TWO HOUSES AND CHAUDI SUPERMARKET

CANACONA: After a series of temple thefts in the State, burglars have now targeted Canacona and struck at three different places, including a super market at Chaudi and two residences at Sadolxem on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

The burglars gained entry into the super-store shop of Goa Bhagyatdar Society Ltd, Chaudi-Canacona, by break opening a lock at the rear side.

“At first glance, not much seems to have been taken away, but a summary account of the entire stock is being worked out as to the missing items, if any. Thieves may have come only for cash,” informed Goa Bhagyatdar’s Canacona Manager T Patil.

Since no cash was available, possibility of taking away cash is ruled out, even as police pressed dog squad into service to trace the tracks of the alleged culprits by Monday afternoon.

Given the enormity of the size of such a large and only super store in the whole of Canacona’s commercial hub Chaudi, till late evening stock summary was being finalized and none could ascertain what has been taken away.

Goa Bhagyatdar Chairman Narendra Savoikar and Managing Director Ulhas Umarye visited the store and took stock of the situation.  According to police sources, dog sniffed its way at a distance of just inside a hundred metres towards a primary school building and could not go beyond that.

Bhagyatdar officials present at the site could not ascertain which day the door breakages had taken place, as it was closed on Sunday, and lock’s tampering has been noticed only on Monday morning when the officials went to open the super store for the day.

Canacona PSI Terrence D’Costa informed that investigation is in progress under Canacona PI Raju Raut Dessai, however, possibility of turning this shop break into a major incident is ruled out.

In the second theft case, cash of Rs 30,000 and three gold bangles, worth Rs 85,000, were stolen from a residence belonging to one Ekimeo Fernandes at Sadolxem. The theft had reportedly taken place on Sunday night.  Police informed ASI Bana is investigating the case, but could not provide further details.

According to sources, in the third theft incident, roof tiles of a house belonging to one Socorina Barretto at Muthal-Sadolxem were removed on Saturday night, before the entire house was ransacked, apparently searching for valuable items and cash.

However, police said nothing was taken away from the house as there was no gold or cash in the house. “The culprits virtually made a mess inside the house while everything including cupboards, etc, were ransacked,” informed police. (HD)