NAGPUR: An unidentified burglar allegedly broke the shutter lock of the ‘Life of Chai’ outlet in Pratap Nagar and decamped with a mobile phone and ₹12,000 in cash, collectively worth ₹18,000, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the police, the incident took place at the tea shop located opposite the Nagar Bus Stop, under Pratap Nagar police station limits.

The complainant, a 30-year-old tea shop owner Sarang Mendhe residing in Somalwada along Wardha Road, operates the outlet under the name ‘Life of Chai’. His mother reportedly handles Zomato food orders from the shop and continues delivery-related work until around 2 am, after which she locks the shutter and closes the establishment.

On November 10, an employee working at the shop informed the owner over the phone that the shutter was found partially open. The owner rushed to the spot and checked the CCTV footage, following which he discovered that an unidentified person had allegedly broken the shutter lock, entered the shop and stolen a Poco mobile phone worth ₹6,000 and ₹12,000 in cash.

The total value of the stolen property has been estimated at ₹18,000.

Based on the complaint, Pratap Nagar police registered a case under Sections 305(a) and 331(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused is yet to be identified, and further investigation is underway.