A Canadian couple staying at The Lalit Hotel in Connaught Place got a rude shock on Wednesday morning when they found their room was burgled by unidentified assailants who had stolen jewellery worth lakhs of rupees.
Police sources said the incident took place on Tuesday night at room no 2001. Protima Johnston and her husband Ian K. Johnston had checked into the hotel at around 3.15 pm.
Soon after checking in, sources said Protima had left the hotel to meet a friend while her husband, who was tired after a long journey, decided to stay back and take a nap. Before leaving, the victim took off two gold chains and kept them on a dressing table in the room.
“When I returned to the hotel at around 8.15 pm, my husband was fast asleep and didn’t open the door despite several knocks. I asked the hotel staff for a duplicate key after which I entered the room and changed clothes. Later I went down to the lobby to have dinner. On Wednesday morning, when I woke up, the gold chains were missing from the table. When I inquired from the staff, they feigned ignorance about the theft. I had never thought that the theft could take place at such a reputed hotel,” the victim said.
Ms Johnston later approached the hotel management who was allegedly of no help following which she was “forced” to approach the Barakhamba police station where her complaint was registered and a case of theft was registered.
The police has collected the CCTV footage from the hotel which is being scanned for leads into the theft. So far, no arrests have been made and the hotel staff is being questioned.