Woman loses gold chain, phones after leaving door open amid summer heat in Bengaluru

Bengaluru : In a cautionary incident from the city, a woman was robbed of gold jewellery and mobile phones after she reportedly left her house door open to cope with the rising summer heat. The incident took place in Anepalya under the limits of Ashok Nagar Police Station.

The victim, identified as Shailaja, a resident of Bengaluru, was unwell and resting at home on Saturday night. Around 2:30 am, she had reportedly left the main door open to allow fresh air inside due to the गर्म weather and fell asleep. Taking advantage of the situation, unidentified thieves entered the house and stole valuables.

According to the complaint, the accused made away with an 18-gram mangalsutra chain and two mobile phones kept near the victim. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be around ₹1.5 lakh.

The theft came to light only when Shailaja woke up around 6 am and noticed the missing items. She immediately alerted the police. However, she later expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in registering the FIR. “I informed the police immediately after discovering the theft, but I was made to wait the entire day before the FIR was registered,” she alleged.

Police officials have begun investigating the case and are analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Preliminary visuals show a barefoot man moving suspiciously in the locality around 2:25 am. “The suspect was seen checking multiple houses by pushing doors. Since the victim’s door was open, he could easily enter and commit the theft,” a police officer said.

Sources added that the accused  appears to have specifically targeted houses with unlocked doors, indicating a possible pattern of opportunistic thefts in the area.

Shailaja, who ранее worked as a team leader in a skincare company, had reportedly quit her job recently due to health reasons. She was alone at home at the time of the incident.

Following the incident, police have issued an advisory urging residents to remain vigilant, especially during late hours. “No matter how hot it gets, residents should ensure that doors are properly locked at night. Installing strong window grills and CCTV cameras can help prevent such crimes,” officials advised.

They also cautioned against keeping valuables such as gold ornaments and mobile phones near sleeping areas or windows, as it makes them easy targets for thieves.

The incident has once again highlighted the importance of basic safety precautions, particularly during summer months when residents may be tempted to keep doors open for ventilation.