Three armed men who stormed the jewellery shop in Maharashtra's Palghar district have terrorized the local community, according to a police investigation. Since it took place during business hours, police are reviewing CCTV footage and collecting evidence to find and arrest the suspects.
The three men entered the jewellery shop at the time when it was open to customers, said witnesses. Witnesses said the men were armed and threatened the shop owner and employees before they got into the store and robbed them. The entire operation was only for a few minutes before the suspects fled the scene before police officers arrived, he said.
Police officials said they got news about the robbery at the moment it happened and rushed to the site. A forensic team was also deployed to collect evidence from the crime scene and investigators began recording statements from the shop owner, employees and eyewitnesses who may have seen the suspects enter or leave the area.
Authorities are reviewing footage from surveillance cameras installed inside the jewellery shop and nearby commercial establishments and on public roads. The footage will assist investigators in identifying the suspects' identities, their escape route and any vehicle they used during the getaway, the investigators hope.
While officials said jewellery and other valuables were stolen in the robbery, it’s not yet been reported the full extent of the losses. Shop owners are currently doing an inventory to determine the total amount of losses. Police will report once the investigation is complete, they said.
At the very time of day this is the most dangerous time of the day for jewellery shops as they are home to the huge number of valuable ornaments and precious metals stored in their interior.
Police officers have formed many teams to investigate the case. Officers are also checking records of known offenders in the same category of crimes and working with neighbouring districts to determine if the suspects are connected to previous robbery incidents. Highway checkpoints and nearby transport routes will also be monitored during the search operation, she said.
Investigators are looking at all angles, including whether the robbery was pre-planned and whether the accused watched the shop before committing it. The order and speed of the operation make police believe that the perpetrators may have studied the shop’s layout and security measures and the daily business routine; they had a good idea how it would be run, but it is clear that they would be able to do that without a lot of time, even if they didn’t know that they were about to do it.
Citizenship and Development Minister John Journeux told the BBC: “There’s worry among local traders and business owners in Palghar that the robbery could have been prevented.” Police in commercial areas and increased security at businesses dealing with the high-value goods have been called on to respond, and local trade associations have urged the authorities to ensure the arrest of those involved and to beef up preventive policing to prevent such incidents in future.
In addition, jewellery retailers can reduce risk if they can install advanced surveillance systems, alarm systems, secure vaults, and emergency communication systems linked to law enforcement agencies, security experts say. Security audits and staff training on emergency response procedures are also very important for reducing the risk of attempted robberies.
And that’s why police have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that might help in the investigation. Anyone who saw suspicious activity near the jewellery shop before or after the incident has been advised to contact local authorities. Even a little piece of information will be helpful in finding the suspects,” said the police.
🚨 JUST IN: Three armed men carried out a daring daylight robbery at Lakshmi Jewellers in the Irani Nagar area of Dahanu, Palghar district, Maharashtra.
— GFN (@OmeyLad23) July 21, 2026
According to reports, the suspects stormed the jewellery shop armed with weapons and looted gold and silver ornaments worth… pic.twitter.com/0FDenyI43u
Police have assured residents that the three armed men are being tracked down and the stolen property has been recovered. Security measures are to be put in place in commercial areas as the search continues, the police said.
It is an ongoing investigation, the police have said, and more information on the identity of the accused, the value of the stolen jewellery and circumstances of the robbery will be revealed as soon as that information is available.
