Keeping your spare keys in shoe racks before you head out? This story is for you!

Accused used spare house key kept outside to steal 348 grams of gold from a software engineer’s home; police recover entire jewellery and issue safety warning.

In a shocking burglary case from Bengaluru, city police arrested a 42-year-old freelance photographer for allegedly stealing gold ornaments worth ₹55 lakh from a software engineer’s residence using a spare key kept outside the house.

The accused has been identified as Kiran, a resident of Varthur Kodi. He earlier ran a photo studio which shut down due to financial losses and later took up freelance event photography. Police said financial stress is believed to be one of the reasons behind the crime.

The theft occurred at a house in Nagondanahalli on February 11. According to the police, the software engineer locked his home before leaving for work but placed a spare key in the shoe rack outside for his children, who were expected to return from school later in the day. When he returned home in the evening, he found the main door open and discovered that 348 grams of gold ornaments were missing from a cupboard.

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A complaint was immediately filed, following which the police launched a detailed investigation. CCTV footage from nearby locations helped investigators track suspicious movement around the building. The footage led them to Kiran, who was traced near Varthur Kodi and arrested on February 13.

During interrogation, Kiran confessed to the theft. He revealed that he had noticed the spare key while visiting the building earlier in search of a house. Using that key, he entered the locked home and stole the gold jewellery. Police later recovered the entire stolen ornaments from his residence.

Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh issued a strong advisory to residents, cautioning against keeping spare keys in easily accessible places such as shoe racks, flowerpots, or common passages. He said such habits make homes vulnerable and significantly increase the risk of theft.

Further investigation is underway to check if the accused is linked to any similar cases in the city.