Ahmedabad, Nov 4 — A 32-year-old man allegedly stole firecrackers worth Rs 11.23 lakh from a sealed shop in Dholka in Gujarat's Ahmedabad by breaking through the common wall of an adjoining premises that he had rented, police said on Wednesday.
The Dholka Town Police arrested the accused, identified as Pankajbhai Rana, within hours of receiving a tip-off about the theft.
He allegedly made a hole in the wall separating the two shops with a hammer before entering the sealed premises and stealing 387 cartons of firecrackers.
According to the police, the stolen firecrackers were kept at Shop No. F/A/2 in Shree Ram Market in Dholka.
The premises had been sealed, and the stock seized in connection with an earlier case registered at Dholka Town Police Station under Sections 125 and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 9B(1-B) and 12 of the Explosives Act, 1884.
Rana had allegedly rented the adjoining Shop No. F/A/3. He is accused of using the opportunity to break through the common wall and enter the sealed shop with the intention of stealing the firecrackers.
"The stolen stock, comprising different varieties manufactured by various companies, was valued at Rs 11,23,210," police said.
The theft came to light after Head Constable Hasmukhbhai Hemubhai received specific information about the incident while he and other personnel from Sindhi Gate Police Chowky were present at the outpost.
Acting on the tip-off, the police questioned Rana, who allegedly confessed to the crime. A fresh FIR has been registered against him under Sections 305(A), 331(3) and 331(4) of the BNS, relating to theft and house-breaking offences. Further legal proceedings are underway.
Police said the investigation is done as part of measures directed by senior officers to prevent property-related offences ahead of Diwali.
Senior officials had instructed teams to strengthen preventive checks, gather intelligence about stolen property and conduct vehicle checks and nakabandis at strategic locations.