PMJ Robbery Exposes Major Security Lapses Leading to Rs 2 Cr Robbery
Investigators suspect the gang selected the showroom after observing that the street had very little public movement and the store lacked strong security measures, making it an easy target for a swift escape.
Karimnagar: The daring daylight robbery at the PMJ Jewellery showroom in Karimnagar city on May 3, in which an armed gang escaped with gold ornaments worth over Rs 2 crore, has exposed major security lapses at the establishment, which reportedly handled transactions worth crores every day with only minimal safety arrangements in place.
While the robbers managed to flee with nearly 1.6 kg of gold ornaments, another bag containing more than 1 kg of jewellery was recovered after it was accidentally dropped during their escape. Police sources said the gang had targeted ornaments valued at over Rs 4 crore, while the showroom allegedly had gold stock worth more than Rs 10 crore at the time of the incident.
Investigators suspect the gang selected the showroom after observing that the street had very little public movement and the store lacked strong security measures, making it an easy target for a swift escape.
The management of PMJ Jewellers has come under criticism for not deploying armed security guards despite dealing with high-value assets. CCTV footage showed the gang entering the showroom with weapons concealed in their waistbands. Locals pointed out that installation of a Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) could have detected the weapons and possibly prevented the robbery.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Jyothi Nagar resident V. Ranadheer said it was shocking that even small supermarkets and cinema halls now use metal detectors, while a jewellery showroom handling gold worth crores ignored such a basic security measure. He said the robbery could have been prevented had the management given priority to the safety of staff and valuables instead of cutting costs on security.
Another resident, K. Narendar, questioned the decision to operate a luxury business in a relatively isolated area without adequate protection. “When you establish a high-end business in a secluded locality, security arrangements should be far stronger. Having only one unarmed security guard is not security at all. If proper standards had been followed, the gang could have been caught immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, police identified two suspects, Anand and Imtiaz, both believed to be habitual offenders. Teams are scanning CCTV footage from surrounding areas to trace the accused and track their movements.
