Pune Crime: Thieves Steal Gold and Cash Worth Rs 64 Lakh From Homes During Lakshmi Puja
Pune, 12th November 2026: Taking advantage of homes being left unattended and valuables being kept in prayer rooms for Lakshmi Puja, thieves targeted several residential areas across Pune on Sunday night (November 8), stealing gold ornaments and cash collectively worth approximately ₹64 lakh in multiple incidents.
The thefts were reported from Hadapsar, Katraj, Mohammadwadi, Ashtapur, Bibvewadi’s Sukhsagarnagar, Kondhwa and Kalepadal. In several cases, thieves allegedly targeted gold jewellery and cash kept in prayer rooms for Lakshmi Puja rituals.
The biggest theft was reported from a bungalow in Hadapsar, where unidentified thieves allegedly decamped with valuables worth ₹47 lakh, including gold ornaments and ₹12 lakh in cash.
According to the complaint registered at Hadapsar police station, the complainant lives in a bungalow in a housing society opposite Annasaheb Magar College. On November 8, the family had placed several gold ornaments, including a Lakshmi haar, necklace, chain, earrings and rings, along with cash in the prayer room for Lakshmi Puja. After performing the rituals, the valuables were left there.
The family went to sleep at night. Around midnight, unidentified thieves allegedly entered the bungalow and gained access to the room housing the prayer area by sliding open a glass panel. They then stole the gold ornaments and cash. Police Sub-Inspector Shubham Shinde is investigating the case.
In another incident in the Santoshnagar area of Katraj, thieves allegedly stole valuables worth ₹1.68 lakh from a flat in Hanuman Complex. The complainant told police that the family had kept gold ornaments and ₹10,000 in cash in the prayer room for the puja. On Monday morning (November 9), they found the flat’s door open and the valuables missing. A case has been registered at Ambegaon police station.
In Bibvewadi’s Sukhsagarnagar area, thieves allegedly stole gold ornaments and cash worth ₹3.28 lakh kept in a prayer room. Bharati Vidyapeeth police are investigating the case.
Another theft was reported from a bungalow in Ashtapur village along the Pune-Ahilyanagar road. The thieves allegedly stole ₹50,000 in cash, gold ornaments, a two-wheeler and a car key, with the total value of the stolen property estimated at ₹2.65 lakh. A complaint has been registered at Lonikand police station, and Assistant Police Inspector Gajanan Kagane is investigating the case.
In Kondhwa’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar area, gold ornaments worth ₹1.82 lakh kept in a prayer room were allegedly stolen. A senior citizen has lodged a complaint at Kondhwa police station.
Two more thefts were reported from the Kalepadal area of Hadapsar. In one incident, gold ornaments worth ₹1.82 lakh were allegedly stolen from a prayer room. In another incident on Mohammadwadi Road, thieves reportedly stole jewellery worth ₹7.34 lakh that had been kept for Lakshmi Puja. Both cases have been registered at Kalepadal police station, and investigations are underway.
