Patel Nagar Burglary Busted: Fruit Seller Arrested for ₹25 Lakh Jewellery Theft

New Delhi- In a swift breakthrough, Delhi Police have arrested a 23-year-old fruit seller accused of stealing jewellery and cash worth nearly ₹25 lakh from a residence in Patel Nagar. The arrest was made following a clever undercover operation and key evidence recovered from the crime scene.

According to officials, the burglary took place earlier this week in South Patel Nagar when the accused allegedly entered a locked house during the early morning hours and fled with a locker containing gold and silver ornaments along with a small amount of cash.

The case came to light after a complaint was lodged at Ranjeet Nagar Police Station. During the initial inspection, police discovered a mobile phone left behind in the bathroom, which turned out to be a crucial lead in tracking down the suspect.

Investigators later received a call on the device from a person claiming to be related to the accused. Acting on this information, a police constable disguised himself as a fruit vendor and set up a meeting under the pretext of returning the phone. This strategy helped officers identify and locate the suspect.

The accused was eventually apprehended from Baljeet Nagar. During interrogation, police recovered a 25-kg locker that had been hidden in an under-construction flat within the same building. Officials said the accused had abandoned it there due to its heavy weight.

Authorities also seized some jewellery items—many of which were later found to be artificial—as well as a small amount of cash. The suspect, a native of Darbhanga, is currently being questioned further as police continue their investigation into the case.