Thief Cut Courier's Trousers, Stole $15,000 Diamonds
October 06, 26
(IDEX Online) - A thief cut the trousers of an angadia (diamond courier) boarding a train in India, and stole the parcel he was transporting in his pocket, valued at $15,600.
The 55-year-old victim was about to travel from Ahmedabad to Mumbai on the express Gujarat Mail service, according to the Government Railway Police.
The suspect is said to have used a sharp object to slit the front pocket of his trousers and remove a parcel containing 11,901 polished diamonds weighing about 100.65 carats.
The diamonds were a consignment from a company in Palanpur (a town in Banaskantha district, Gujarat) and valued at roughly RUP 15 lakh ($15,600).
The victim discovered the missing parcel while placing his luggage on the train at Kalupur.
He traveled on to Mumbai with his colleagues, completed delivery of the other consignments, returned to Ahmedabad and reported the theft.
The courier worked for an angadia firm in Ahmedabad's Ratanpol area. Angadias are traditional Indian courier businesses who transport valuables, including diamonds, jewelry and cash, between traders.
The system is particularly associated with Gujarat and the Mumbai diamond trade.
He was traveling with colleagues and carrying three bags containing consignments for delivery to different destinations.
The group had arrived at the station together and boarded the Gujarat Mail at Platform 7.
CCTV footage from the station's circulating area, escalator and footbridge has so far not revealed any suspicious person or unusual movement .
Police have not established whether the parcel disappeared before he boarded the train or after he entered the coach.
Generic Indian railway pic.