Rs 2.5 Million Stolen from Home Under Renovation in Montagne-Ory

A burglary at a house undergoing renovation in Montagne-Ory, a residential area in the south of Mauritius, has left the owners counting losses of approximately Rs 2.5 million (roughly USD 55,000), according to a report by Le Défi Media. The property, which was unoccupied due to ongoing renovation works, was targeted by thieves who took advantage of the reduced security that typically accompanies building sites. The absence of regular occupants and the presence of workers and equipment coming and going can make renovating homes an easier target for opportunistic criminals. Details of exactly what was stolen — whether cash, jewellery, electronics or other valuables — were not fully disclosed in the initial report. Police have been notified and an investigation is understood to be under way. **A Pattern Worth Noting** This incident is not isolated. Homes under renovation or construction in Mauritius have increasingly been targeted by burglars in recent years. The reasoning is straightforward: owners often temporarily store valuable items on-site, security measures such as alarm systems may not yet be installed, and the property may go unmonitored overnight or over weekends. Montagne-Ory falls under the jurisdiction of local police stations in the southern region of the island, and residents in the area have previously raised concerns about property crime. **What This Means for Homeowners** If you are renovating a property in Mauritius, this case serves as a sharp reminder to take precautions: - **Do not store high-value items** such as jewellery, cash or electronics on the premises during renovation. - **Install temporary security cameras** or hire a night watchman if the property will be unoccupied. - **Inform your insurer** that the property is under renovation, as standard home insurance policies may not cover theft during building works without a specific endorsement. - **Coordinate with local police** to flag the property as unoccupied — some stations offer informal check-in patrols on request. The sheer scale of the reported loss — Rs 2.5 million — suggests the thieves either had prior knowledge of the property's contents or conducted reconnaissance before striking. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Montagne-Ory burglary to contact their nearest police station. Source: Le Défi Media