Bengaluru: A family was left stunned after their domestic help vanished with 1.5 kg of gold jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore and Rs 25,000 in cash during their brief outing recently. The Nepalese woman, identified as Tulsi, had worked for the family for nearly three years and was staying with them.According to a complaint filed by Dilip Kaparthi, a resident of a second-floor apartment in Tata Silk Farm in Basavanagudi, his family had allotted a room for Tulsi in their house for staying.On Aug 25, he and his wife left home around 12.30pm to visit HSR Layout, leaving Tulsi alone at the house. Their son, who had left for school at around 7.30am, returned around 3.30pm and noticed that the house door was open.Suspecting something was amiss, he alerted Dilip who called the building’s security guard and asked him to check his house. When the complainant returned home around 4.30pm, he found that the bedroom cupboard had been tampered with and the safe locker containing the family’s gold jewellery and cash was missing. Banashankari police were alerted about the incident. A senior officer said Tulsi had been captured on camera walking out of the apartment complex with her belongings, in which she had hidden the safe.“We suspect she has taken the help of her associates to escape. Efforts are on to nab her and others involved,” a police officer said. Dilip is into the gold business and runs a shop on Avenue Road.Joint commissioner of police (west) Vamsi Krishna said, “Any person hiring a domestic help or security guards should ensure helpers don’t get access to all the rooms and everything. Hire people only after getting police verification. Keep valuables safely, such as in bank lockers instead of at home.”Deputy commissioner of police (south) Kona Vamsi Krishna said: “The Masika Janasamparka Divasa meeting was held in the jurisdiction of Banashankari police station. I had created awareness about domestic help and security guards from Nepal and locals involved in crimes such as servant thefts and robberies and insisted that people be very careful. Within three days, the theft has been reported.”The police station staff have been creating awareness among residents under the Mane Manege Police initiative. Beat police are educating people about hiring helpers through trusted agencies and getting police verification, but most people don’t follow their instructions, Krishna added.Recently, Yelahanka police arrested a gang of four security guards who had allegedly stolen gold and silver from a house. The main accused, who was working in the victim’s house, is still at large.INSET (Optional)If Accused Cross Border, Chances of Recovery Is Very Less:A senior officer said, “These Nepalese commit crimes in gangs. Soon after they commit theft, they will distribute the stolen booty and flee to other states. Then, another layer will head towards Nepal and cross the border through Uttar Pradesh. Once they cross the border, it is very difficult for the police to trace the accused. Even if traced, the recovery of property can hardly be done. If we have to arrest the Nepalese, we have to get permission from their Embassy. In many cases, our investigators are threatened by local police in Nepal. But Nepalese have no restriction to come to India or return,” the officer added.“We suggest people avoid hiring Nepalese because we cannot verify their antecedents as we don’t have access to their country records,” the officer said.Why Do People Hire Nepalese:People in India prefer hiring Nepalese because they don’t say no to any work and work for lesser salaries. They gain the trust of the employers for years and steal the valuables. In a few cases, they have attacked or killed the employer, a senior officer said.ENDS///
