Surat: In a daylight robbery in Valsad, three men took cash and valuables worth Rs 3.86 lakh at knifepoint from a first-floor apartment on Tuesday afternoon. A 69-year-old woman, whose children are settled in London, and her housemaid were in the house at the time.The robbery occurred around 12.30pm in the apartment of Ranjan Parekh in the Vegetable Market area. Parekh and her maid, Nita Rathod, were in the flat at the time, according to a complaint lodged at Valsad police station. Parekh was in the bathroom while Rathod was cleaning the house and had left the front door open. As the three men entered, Rathod raised the alarm. The robbers threatened her with a knife and warned that she would be killed if she shouted. When Parekh came out, one of the robbers pushed her back inside, covered her mouth and threatened to kill her. He then removed the jewellery she was wearing. The accused later demanded money, took the keys to the drawers and searched the house for valuables. Police said they made away with silver idols and Rs 60,000 in cash. Before fleeing, the robbers tied the hands and legs of Parekh and Rathod with a dupatta. Police said the total value of stolen cash, jewellery and other valuables was estimated at Rs 3.86 lakh. CCTV footage showing the movement of the suspects has been recovered, and further investigation is underway.
