New Delhi:
Nearly 90 Rolex watches worth almost Rs nine crore have been stolen under mysterious circumstances from a high-end showroom in Connaught Place area in Delhi, police said today.
The theft took place on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday at Cooke & Kelvey showroom, the official Rolex retailer situated in Scindia House.
"The incident was reported to us yesterday morning that around 80 to 90 Rolex watches worth eight to nine crores were stolen from Cooke & Kelvey showroom in the night. It seems that a spade was inserted as a lever beneath the shutter of the showroom and it was lifted to provide entry to a child who carried out the robbery," said Additional Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S B S Tyagi.
Police has registered a case of theft at Barakhamba police station.
The investigators are questioning the security guard, who was sleeping outside the showroom.
"Interestingly, the showroom also had gold jewellery, but it was not stolen. The thief only targeted Rolex watches which were insured. Such a high-end showroom did not have CCTV cameras installed at its premises," said Mr Tyagi.
Police have also not been able to get any CCTV footage of the incident from neighbouring buildings. However, fingerprints of a child have been found by the forensic team.
Police suspect that it could be a handiwork of an insider who was aware of the security lapses at the showroom. Those working currently at the showroom and its former employees are being traced and being questioned.
"Small time robbers would have targeted the gold jewellery first before stealing watches because gold can be easily disposed of. Selling such high-end watches, which costs several lakhs per piece, is a difficult job," said another senior official closely associated with the investigation.