Patna: Cash and jewellery worth in lakhs were stolen from the house of a former airline employee at Ram Krishna Nagar area sometime between March 31 and April 2 when the inhabitants were out of town.

The house at Chanakya Nagar belongs to Amit Kumar, a former Indigo employee. Nobody was in the house when the theft occurred and the thieves entered the house by breaking the locks of the front door.

"We returned home on Monday night to notice the door of the house open and households items scattered all around," said Amit, who was depressed after the incident.

"The police have registered a case on the basis of Amit's complaint," RK Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar said. The police claimed that Amit and his family had gone to Digha to celebrate Easter. The family members came to know about the incident after their maid informed them.

The police claimed, prima facie, it appears to be the handiwork of local gangs.

Gang bust

In another development, Patna police have busted a gang involved in several theft and loot incidents in Patna and neighbouring areas. The police have arrested Dinanath Paswan and a woman Anita Kumari (name changed). Other gang members are yet to be nabbed. The gang is said to be involved in several loot and theft incidents in Bakhtiyarpur police station, Salimpur, Athamalgola, Khuruspur and other areas.

Police sources said the gang would recce areas by night to look for closed houses they can target. The kingpin of the gang was Ashok Kumar Sao, presently lodged in Muzaffarpur jail. The police have recovered Rs 1.45 lakh in cash and a large quantity of bangles, ear rings, gold chains and others from their possession.