Bantwal : Two jewellery shops  at Siddakatte on Bantwal-Moodbidri State Highway have been robbed. Thieves have decamped with gold and silver valuables worth nearly Rs 42.22 lakh from these two shops.

The thieves who first entered Navarang Wine Shop  after breaking the back wall, could not find anything. Later they opened the shutters and lockers of ‘Swarna Prabha’ Jewellers at Vishwajyothi complex belonging to Prabhakar Acharya and robbed 130 grams of gold, 15 kilograms of silver and also some diamond jewelry, the total worth being Rs 10 lac. They entered  the shop using gas cutter.

They next entered Dhanalaxmi Jewellers located opposite to the road, belonging to Chidanand from Punjalakatte and robbed jewellery worth Rs 32.22 lakhs. The stolen valuables include 35 kilograms of silver and 370 grams of gold.The thieves reportedly even threatened Prabhaker, a security guard of a nearby ATM who entered the shop on hearing some sound.

They then fled in a vehicle. Several people gathered in front of the shop on hearing about the theft which has sent waves of panic. Recently thieves had struck as many as eight shops in Kundapur.