Medals, antique cameras were stolen from the house of a national table tennis player

Medals, antique cameras and other valuables have been stolen from the residence of a national table tennis player in Padmanabhanagar.

The victim is BN Nagaraj, 74, a national table tennis player turned artist. He has built an art gallery on the terrace of the third floor of his house. The theft happened on May 9 at around 10:15 p.m. and was discovered the next morning.

Nagaraj and his family were in the house when the burglar made off with the valuables.

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According to Nagaraj, the thief stole five medals, including gold, silver and bronze, which he had won in various national table tennis championships, 12 antique cameras, three wristwatches and five brass bells kept in an art gallery. Since the gallery door was not locked, it was easier for a thief to sneak in.

The police estimated that the value of the stolen wristwatches was more than one million rubles.

The CCTV footage shows the 20-year-old burglar climbing the adjacent building under construction and entering Nagaraj’s building with the help of a log used in the construction.

“We have registered a case under Section 380 (theft in residential house) of IPC and are trying to nab the miscreant,” the police said.

Nagaraj is a veteran table tennis player. He still participates in national level games and has even played abroad. Among the stolen medals are the medals he won from veteran tournaments.

The antique cameras were brought by his parents. Some of the cameras are 100 years old and were used before independence, a senior police officer said.

The thief left behind the tools used in the burglary, such as a gas cutter and an iron bar. Fingerprint and forensic experts visited the house and collected evidence.

Nagaraj told the police that he can buy other valuables but not his hard earned medals.