The city police on Friday arrested 30-year-old J. Ravi Kumar Reddy, a B. Tech graduate who was working as sales executive at a jewellery store, for stealing 350 gms of gold bars and coins, worth over Rs. 3.5 lakh.
The accused is a native of Tadipatri in Anantapur district and he joined as sales executive at Tanishq Jewellery store, located at CBM Compound in the city in January, this year.
DCP (Crimes) T. Ravi Kumar Murthy said that Reddy was addicted to alcohol, gambling and other vices and to fulfil his vices he committed the theft in the showroom.
Seizing an opportunity on April 26, he stole seven gold bars, each bar weighing 50 gms, while the other staff of the jewellery store were in a routine meeting at the store and fled from the spot.
While tallying the stock, the owner U. Raja found out that 350 gms of gold bars were missing. By scanning the CC TV footage, it was realised that Reddy had stolen the gold, said DCP Murthy.
Based on a complaint filed by Mr. U. Raja, the crime wing police of Three Town Police station registered a case against Reddy and launched a manhunt. After 10 days of investigation, Reddy was arrested by the SI of Three-Town L. Damodara Rao and his team at a casino in Goa.
The police also recovered all the stolen gold bars from the accused.