Go for modern security gadgets, CoP tells jewellers

Recent heist at Lalithaa Jewellery should be a wake-up call for the business community: Collector

In a major heist in the heart of the city, burglars wearing masks decamped with gold ornaments worth about 50 crore from Lalithaa Jewellery Mart near Chathram Bus Stand in Tiruchi.

Jewellery outlets, pawn brokers and other commercial establishments dealing with high value goods should instal advanced security and surveillance gadgets to thwart occurrence of crimes, Commissioner of Police A. Amalraj said on Friday.

Alongside installing modern gadgets, such establishments should also go in for property insurance, which should be seen as an investment and not an expenditure, Mr. Amalraj said.

He was addressing a sensitisation meeting organised by the city police for owners of jewellery outlets, proprietors of pawn broking units and bank officials in the wake of the recent heist at the Lalithaa Jewellery showroom here.

Emphasising the need to install advanced security-related apparatus in accordance with the size and requirements of their establishments, the Commissioner said this was imperative in the wake of offences being committed by criminals at times with ease.

Every jewellery shop and pawn shop should have a locker and the owners should go in for property insurance, he said.

Noting that several jewellery shops and pawn shops in the city lacked locker facility, Mr. Amalraj sought the cooperation of the business community in helping the police in speedy detection of crimes by putting in place necessary security paraphernalia. Owners of commercial establishments should instal advanced CCTV system with adequate storage facility and desist from switching off the cameras in the night while closing the outlet. The real challenge for the police was in recovery of the stolen goods even after arresting the accused since they had a disposal mechanism.

Collector S. Sivarasu said the recent heist at Lalithaa Jewellery should be a wake-up call for the business community in having necessary security and surveillance system in place to check offences. The trading community ought to acquire quality CCTV system and insure the product meant for sale.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) A. Myilvaganan gave an overview of the number of jewellery shops, ATMs, banks and financial institutions in the city besides the policing system. He urged the business community to opt for modern alert/ alarm system and advanced cameras.