As per ROP orders the copy was mandatory earlier too in case of customers exchanging or selling gold. But now jewellers are taking this extra step to be more cautious especially after a number of incidents of shoplifting and thefts recently.

'We have begun collecting a copy of the gold buyers' ID/resident card while billing' said the manager of a leading jewellery store in Ruwi. 'Although most jewellery stores have security and surveillance equipment installed police officers investigating thefts or cases of shoplifting were finding it hard to trace the suspects' he said.

A senior official from the ROP said that a copy of the resident card can make zeroing in on the suspect easier. The police has asked some jewellers who have reported cases of shoplifting to keep a copy of customers' civil ID card the officer said.

'Recently major thefts at jewellery stores were reported in the sultanate. Around 6kg gold was reported stolen from a showroom in Sohar. In the second case a jewellery shop in a mall in Bausher was targeted. Also an Arab family was suspected to be behind a number of gold thefts in Muscat' said the manager of a jewellery store in Qurm.

He said a copy of the resident card can speed up investigations by helping in tracking down the suspect. 'It is the responsibility of all jewellery stores to periodically submit copies of transactions to the ROP' said another jewellery store manager.

A store which has not yet started the practice said 'We insist on a copy of the ID/resident card while dealing with sellers and exchangers. We haven't yet started the same for buyers. It's a good move.'