Ahmedabad cops crack jewellery heist: How 19-year-old ‘broke through’ store, gave himself away

Instead of relying solely on physical evidence, the investigation team reconstructed the thief’s psychology, theorising that someone capable of such a labour-intensive breach likely possessed a background in construction or manual labour and would seek refuge in familiar labour colonies.

The police team thus narrowed their focus to the settlements near Ramol canal and Jamfalwadi. “The investigation then worked digital footprints, synchronising feeds from hundreds of CCTV cameras across the Hatkeshwar-Ramol corridor, looking for subtle movement patterns—specifically individuals carrying heavy, concealed loads in the dead of night. By merging this technical surveillance with a network of human informants, the Crime Branch tracked the suspect’s ‘digital breadcrumbs’ with precision,” said the statement.

A trap was laid near the Shaktimata Temple at Jamfalwadi, and Khadiya was caught while allegedly trying to move the stolen goods. The police recovered all the stolen goods.