Representative image of arrest.
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police on Friday announced the arrest of a gang that broke into houses in the presence of occupants and stole valuables in west Bengaluru’s Basaveshwara Nagar.
The suspects have been identified as Madan, 21, Manoj, 29, and Hitesh Kumar, 22, all residents of Mahalakshmi Layout.
Police investigations revealed that Madan previously worked at construction sites and would steal copper wires and metal rods from under-construction buildings. Using the money from selling the stolen materials, Madan partied at a bar in west Bengaluru daily.
“On one of those days at the bar, he sat at the same table as Manoj and Kumar and eventually befriended them. After a few days, Madan pitched the idea of stealing to the other two and convinced them to join him,” an investigator in the case told DH.
While Madan continued stealing small items from construction sites, he aimed to make big money in less time and planned to randomly choose houses for break-ins. The other two suspects agreed to assist him.
According to the police, while Madan broke into houses, Manoj and Kumar helped with transportation and disposing of the stolen valuables. On May 3, Madan broke into two houses in Basaveshwara Nagar and stole watches, bracelets, $ 300 dollars, sunglasses, and gold and silver ornaments.
Investigations revealed that Manoj and Kumar dropped Madan off at the location and left. Madan entered an under-construction building and kept a watch on neighbouring homes with open balconies or terrace doors. He targeted two houses with balcony doors left ajar.
Around 12.30 pm, he jumped from one building to another to access the targeted house. Despite a person working inside, he quietly ransacked another room and fled with valuables. Around 2.30 pm, he struck again, breaking into another house less than a kilometre away and stealing gold and silver jewellery.
After registering an FIR, the Basaveshwara Nagar police traced Madan and arrested him at Kurabarahalli Circle. He then led the police to Manoj and Kumar.
“As a construction worker, Madan knew how to scale scaffolding and deliberately picked houses adjacent to under-construction buildings. Using the climbing techniques he learned on the job, and he would jump onto balconies,” the investigator explained.
Madan had been arrested by the Basaveshwara Nagar police last year for stealing a bicycle.