Surat: A major theft involving 206 tolas of gold jewellery worth an estimated ₹2.67 crore from the Singanpore branch of private safe vault operator Safe House has sent shockwaves across Surat, Gujarat. Investigators believe the crime was not the work of an external gang but a carefully orchestrated insider conspiracy. The case has brought the branch manager, Mahesh, his two sons, Harsh and Harikrishna, and an alleged expert locker breaker, Manilal, under the scanner. Police have detained three of the accused and launched an extensive investigation.
The incident triggered panic among thousands of Safe House customers across Surat. As news of the theft spread through social media and local reports, anxious locker holders rushed to various Safe House branches to verify the safety of their valuables. Long queues formed outside the facilities, and the situation became so tense that police had to be deployed to maintain law and order.
According to investigators, Safe House operates more than 2,500 private lockers across its three Surat branches. The alleged breach has raised serious concerns over the security of privately managed locker facilities. Police suspect the theft may not have been limited to a single locker and are examining whether additional customers were also targeted.
Preliminary findings indicate that the accused allegedly accessed customers’ lockers at different times when the owners were absent. Investigators believe they removed gold jewellery in a manner designed to avoid immediate detection. Police suspect the operation was planned over an extended period, with the intention of selling the stolen ornaments in the market for financial gain.
The case came to light after Surat resident Ramesh Vaghani discovered that most of his family’s jewellery had disappeared from their locker. According to his complaint, the locker, registered in the name of his wife, Hirenben, had been rented at the Singanpore branch in 2020 for a monthly fee of ₹1,700. Family members had inspected the locker on May 8, 2026, and confirmed that all the jewellery was intact at that time.
Nearly two months later, when the family returned to collect ornaments for a family function, they found that only one mangalsutra, two bracelets and three rings remained, while approximately 63 tolas of gold jewellery had vanished. The family then demanded access to the branch’s CCTV footage.
According to the complaint, CCTV footage was reviewed for several hours before Harsh, who was present at the counter, allegedly became visibly nervous. He reportedly remarked that the matter had become “too hot” and that he had taken significant risks. Soon afterwards, he allegedly refused to continue showing the footage and claimed that the surveillance recordings had been deleted from the hard disk. The incident further deepened the family’s suspicion, prompting them to file a complaint at the Singanpore-Dabholi Police Station.
As reports of the alleged conspiracy spread, customers flocked to Safe House’s Varachha branches to inspect their lockers and remove valuables. Several customers complained of technical issues while opening their lockers and alleged that branch officials failed to provide satisfactory explanations, leading to confusion and heated arguments inside the premises.
Based on Ramesh Vaghani’s complaint, police registered a case under Sections 316(2), 316(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. Investigators have detained Mahesh, Harsh and Harikrishna for questioning, while the role of Manilal and any other possible accomplices is also being examined. Police are now working to determine how many lockers may have been compromised, recover the stolen gold, and establish the full extent of the alleged fraud.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
