Pune: A shocking gold theft took place in Ganesh Peth area when a trusted craftsman, along with his relatives, allegedly stole gold worth ₹1.80 crore from Z Jewellers, a well-known jewelry store in the locality.

The theft, which involved 4.5 kilograms of gold, has led to an intense investigation by the Pune police.

The incident came to light when Zameer Ibrahim Shaikh, the owner of Z Jewellers and Enterprises, reported the theft at Faraskhana Police Station.

According to the complaint, Mohammad Mithun Shaikh, who had been working with Shaikh for several years crafting jewelry, was trusted enough to be given access to the shop's safe.

It was this trust that is believed to have been exploited when Mohammad and his associates, identified as Rahul, Shamim, Sunny Shaikh, and Rajiv Shaikh—reportedly all hailing from West Bengal—disappeared with the stolen gold.

Z Jewellers is an establishment in Ganesh Peth, known for its custom jewelry designs. The shop owner, Zameer Shaikh, has been in the business for several years and had placed immense faith in Mohammad, given his long association with the store.

Upon receiving the complaint, senior police officers, including Senior Inspector Prashant Bhasme and Police Inspector (Crime) Ajit Jadhav, immediately visited the crime scene.

The initial investigation revealed that the theft had been meticulously planned. Mohammad and his relatives vanished without a trace, taking with them the 4.5 kilograms of gold from the safe.

Faraskhana police have registered a case against the five accused, and efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts. Sub-Inspector Arvind Shinde is leading the investigation.