Sambalpur: Jewelry Worth Rs. 25 Lakh and Rs. 16.40 Lakh Cash Looted from Hotel Owner’s House; Accused Arrested, SP Advises Against Keeping Excess Cash at Home

Sambalpur: A man from Sambalpur was arrested for stealing Rs. 25 lakh worth of gold jewelry and cash from his neighbor’s house. The neighbor had stored Rs. 16.40 lakh in cash and gold jewelry worth Rs. 8.60 lakh at home for a wedding. Some of the cash was so old that even insects had eaten parts of it.

How the Theft Happened

The accused, Anshu Behera, who lives next door, noticed the large amount of cash and gold in the house. Taking advantage of the family’s absence, he broke into their house and stole the money and valuables stored in a bag. After the family discovered the theft, they reported the incident to the Burla police station on December 12.

Police Investigation

The Burla police formed a team led by the SDPO. The investigation found that the accused was aware of the cash and gold in his neighbor’s house. He broke the lock and took everything. The police recovered all the stolen items, including:

• Gold (131.8 grams): 9 rings, 2 anklets, 2 chains, 1 forehead ornament, 5 earrings, 5 nose studs, 5 lockets, and 1 heavy chain.
• Silver (760 grams): 12 anklets, 1 chain, 6 heavy chains, and 5 rings.

The stolen cash and jewelry were seized and will be returned to the victim after legal formalities.

Background of the Victim’s Family

The victim, Preeti Panda, stated that her family was preparing for her wedding and had saved money to purchase a house. Her brother, who runs a small repair shop, used to save daily earnings, which were bundled and stored at home. They earn an average of Rs. 5,000–6,000 per day from their family-run hotel and food center.

SP’s Advice to Citizens

During a press conference, the Sambalpur SP advised citizens not to store large amounts of cash at home. Instead, people should deposit money in banks to ensure safety. Despite the availability of secure banking and online transaction systems, many individuals still prefer keeping cash at home, increasing the risk of theft.

Cash Handling Guidelines

After completing the required formalities, the bank will deposit the recovered cash into the victim’s bank account.

The incident has sparked discussions about the risks of keeping large sums of money at home and the importance of using banking systems for financial security.