Serial thefts in Bagepalli scare citizens

A gang of three thieves escaped with jewellery worth Rs three lakh and Rs 50,000 cash in serial thefts at Mittemari village in Bagepalli taluk on Saturday midnight.

Sudarshan, K Ravikumar, Seethamma, Balakrishna, Manjunath and Shriramappa’s houses have been burgled.

According to the police, a marriage ceremony was being held near Narasimhaswamy temple in the village. The thieves struck these houses, when the inmates were away.

House-break

On Saturday midnight, they struck the house of Manjunath, an employee of the State Road Transport Corporation and escaped with jewellery, by breaking open the treasury.

They proceeded to Balakrishna’s house, located in the front and ransacked.

They then struck Seethamma’s house and stole valuables comprising wrist watches, gold and silver ornaments and Rs 15,000 cash and kept the booty in a bag below a coconut tree, before they embarked upon their next target.

Injured

A nurse in the Primary Health Centre, Sarojamma’s house was also burgled. Sarojamma and her husband Sudarshan slept at the Primary Health Centre. They were alerted on their cellphone by the neighbours regarding the theft.

The couple rushed to their house and even tried to nab the thieves, but in the melee, both received injuries when they were attacked by the gang.

Sarojamma and Sudarshan yelled for help and the neighbours rushed to the spot. By this time, however, the thieves had escaped.

Police visit site

Police have handed over the bag left below the coconut tree to K Ravikumar.

Superintendent of Police T D Pawar, Sub-Inspectors J N Anand Kumar, K M Shrinivasappa have visited the spot. Further investigations are on to nab the culprits.

People demand police station

Residents of Mittemari have urged the authorities concerned to provide a police station on the outskirts of their village.

In a memorandum submitted to Superintendent of Police Dr T D Pawar, the members have stated that Mittemari, located 20 km away from Bagepalli town, had become a haven for anti-social elements and illegal activities. The police were not able to curb the increasing crimes.

Thefts and burglaries took place every now and then in the village. People were finding it difficult to lead their lives.

Immediate measures should be taken to establish a police station on the outskirts of the village, the members have urged. Mittemari Gram Panchayat member Gopi submitted the memorandum.