A gang of thieves escaped with gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh from the house of a businessman in Raman Enclave while the family was away on a week-long pilgrimage. The theft came to light on Monday afternoon when the houseowner Ravi Kapoor, who runs a hosiery factory in the city, returned home.

Speaking to Newsline, Kapoor said: “I had gone with my wife and daughter to pay obeisance at the Vaishno Devi and Chintpurni shrines. Upon our return, we found the main door of the house open. Inside, two almirahs had been broken open and gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh was missing.”

As only those almirahs in which jewellery was stored were raided, Kapoor suspects that a person known to the family might be involved in the theft. The matter was reported to Haibowal police but no FIR had been registered in this regard till the filing of this report.