Hyderabad woman wore burqa, used hand cutter to break house locks; 48 tulas gold, 1.5kg silver recovered

Police in Hyderabad arrested a woman who entered a residential building wearing a burqa and used a hand‑held cutter to force open the locks on several doors. The suspect targeted a ground‑floor flat where she broke the lock mechanisms and entered the premises in the early hours of the morning. Investigators reported that the theft involved a large quantity of precious metal, including gold jewellery measured in 48 tulas and approximately one and a half kilograms of silver. The use of a burqa was noted as a tactic to avoid immediate detection.

The Hyderabad Crime Branch quickly launched a search operation after receiving the complaint, deploying forensic teams to examine the broken locks and trace any fingerprints left on the cutter. Within two days, investigators were able to recover the full amount of gold and silver reported missing, confirming the presence of 48 tulas of gold and 1.5 kilograms of silver in the possession of the suspect. The woman was taken into custody, and the authorities began the process of filing a charge sheet under sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with robbery, burglary and the use of a weapon.

The case highlights growing concerns about security in densely populated Indian cities where thieves sometimes exploit cultural attire to blend in with residents. While incidents of burglary are not new, the scale of the recovered metal underscores the lucrative market for stolen gold and silver, which often finds its way into informal channels. Local authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, to verify the identity of anyone entering their homes, and to report suspicious behavior promptly. The incident also serves as a reminder that law‑enforcement agencies are enhancing their investigative capabilities to deter similar crimes.