Suryapeta: 18 kilograms of gold ornaments and Rs 22 lakh in cash robbed by unidentified persons from Sai Santoshi Jewellers in Suryapet town in a late-night robbery.

According to police, the thieves gained entry by smashing a hole in the shop’s rear bathroom wall before using a gas cutter to open the back shutter. The theft came to light when the owner arrived to open the shop on Monday morning and found the valuables missing.

According to the police sources, only 3 kg gold ornaments were missing. A complaint was lodged. SP K Narasimha visited the spot. He told reporters that the break-in occurred late on Sunday night. Police are scouring the CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators. Five special teams have been formed to trace the accused.

The SP said that the shop did not have adequate security arrangements despite the high value of the stock. The case is under investigation.