Gold heist: Series of thefts, several arrests

By Sanjana CS

Across city, police nab individuals involved in robbery, burglary, chain-snatching

The police have apprehended several persons involved in thefts, be it of gold or other valuables, across the city. Police Commissioner B Dayananda said in a statement that gold-snatching incidents have been reported in various areas.

In one incident, a factory in Peenya was broken into and cash, laptop and documents were stolen. The factory owner Fiyudadar reported the burglary on May 7. He said that `55,000 in cash, a laptop, and important documents were missing. The Rajagopalnagar Police officials registered a theft case.

They arrested a suspect near the Peenya 2nd level bus stand on September 19, recovering three gold chains and one gold bracelet weighing a total of 41 grams. The arrested individual confessed to the thefts, revealing a broader network of crimes spanning multiple areas in the city.

The accused was presented in court and remanded into police custody for further questioning. Under interrogation, he confessed to stealing gold ornaments from various locations throughout the city, indicating that he had transferred the stolen items to an accomplice.

The investigation continued, leading to the detention of the accomplice on September 21, near the Devanahalli bus stand. This individual disclosed that he had mortgaged a gold ornament weighing 35 grams at a jewellery shop in Melkote, Doddaballapur, while 64 grams of gold was mortgaged at a bank in Devanahalli. The items were retrieved subsequently.

Police searched a Hosguddahalli location in September linked to an arrested suspect, recovering 80 grams of gold and an additional 25 grams mortgaged at a Ramnagar finance company, totalling 245 grams of gold and a two-wheeler worth `14 lakh involved in the crime.

Chain thief arrested
Whitefield police addressed a separate chain theft case from September 4, where a retail shop owner in Vinayaka Nagar reported that a person posing as a customer had snatched a 48-gram gold chain from her neck.

The Whitefield Police arrested a suspect on Hagadur Main Road on September 14, recovering the stolen 48-gram gold chain. The accused admitted to the crime and further revealed his involvement in another theft where he had taken a 29-gram gold chain from Hanumantanagar, which was subsequently recovered.

The police also seized a two-wheeler used in the commission of the crimes. The accused was remanded to judicial custody following his court appearance on September 20.

Snatched
Talaghattapura police handled a case of gold chain snatching on September 12. A woman reported that two men had stolen a 32-gram gold chain while she was walking on BDA Road. Quick action by the police led to the arrest of both suspects on September 13, near Konanakunte Cross. Both the accused confessed to the theft and indicated that they had sold the chain to a jewellery shop in Hoskerehalli. The police successfully recovered the stolen item, valued at `1.5 lakh, and both suspects were remanded to judicial custody.

Two-wheeler thief nabbed

KR Puram police arrested a man involved in a spree of two-wheeler thefts across the city, recovering 30 stolen vehicles valued at `22.50 lakh. The investigation began after a complainant from Kowdenahalli reported that his two-wheeler was stolen from in front of his house on the night of June 28.

On September 15, police apprehended the suspect. During interrogation, the accused confessed to stealing several two-wheelers in both the city and the surrounding rural districts.

Further investigation has linked the suspect to six theft cases across multiple police stations in Bengaluru.