A gang of thieves broke into a warehouse in India and stole 830kg (1830lb) of human hair.

The victim, hair seller Venkataswamy Kaul, 73, had recently relocated his storage facility from Hebbal to Lakshmipura Cross in Bangalore on February 12. His godown, located in a basement at a commercial building, housed 27 bags filled with hundreds of kilos of processed hair.

Authorities said the robbers used iron rods to break open the shutter before loading the stolen goods into a Mahindra Bolero SUV on February 28.

A vigilant homeowner noticed suspicious activity and saw strands of hair scattered on the road. Suspecting foul play, they alerted authorities before leaving the scene.

Police arrived and found the security door partially open, revealing the theft. By 1:50 am, Venkataswamy was informed and discovered his godown empty.

Venkataswamy said: 'We had over 830kg of hair meticulously stored, inspected, and labelled for a buyer.'

Authorities estimated the stolen hair was worth Rs 1 crore (89,000 GBP).

Venkataswamy sources hair from various regions in Andhra Pradesh, such as Kadapa and Srikakulam, before supplying it to a Hyderabad merchant, who exports it to Burma and China for wig production.

In India, certain regions are known for high-quality hair, with local gatherers selling it for Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 (9 GBP- 18 GBP) per kilogram. Traders then sell it to agents, who supply businesses like Venkataswamy's.

Indian hair is highly sought after in international markets due to its quality and affordability. China and Burma are among the biggest buyers.

Venkataswamy suspects an insider leak, as the thieves appeared to have prior knowledge of the warehouse stock.

CCTV cameras captured footage of the getaway SUV, but the poor video quality obscured the registration number.

A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 305 (theft in a dwelling house, means of transportation, or place of worship) and 331 (punishment for house-trespass or housebreaking).

Authorities are investigating to identify and locate the culprits.