THE police returned stolen valuables and cash amounting to over R81 lakh on Friday. The recovery was part of a larger drive in Navi Mumbai. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Amit Kale and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Belapur division) Mayur Bhujbal returned valuables worth R81.72 lakh to around 40 original owners at Ashray Hall in Nerul. From the Nerul division alone, 630 gm of jewellery, one vehicle, and 32 mobile phones worth R57.56 lakh were returned.

The Nerul home of Milind Vilas Bhoir, who had hired a maid over a month earlier through a Vashi-based agency, was robbed on August 20. His 65-year-old mother was asleep in her bedroom when thieves entered and took away jewellery worth R22 lakh — a gold necklace, a mangalsutra, three gold bangles, three sets of gold earrings and 20 rings.