Crime branch team busts theft racket

Arrests two of four accused; haul worth Rs 6.79 lakh includes provisions, vehicle

The crime branch of the Chintamani police, solving a series of six thefts and finding a group of four thieves, have arrested two and seized things worth Rs 6.79 lakh recently.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Ramesh Banoth, who addressed a press conference on Wednesday, said Kitty alias Krishna, a resident of Vinoba Colony, and  Raja alias Viji from Bamboo Bazaar, were the arrested. “The search for the two other accused Munavar and Muneer is on,” he added.

First step

A special team led by city police station inspector Nanjappa was given charge of solving the increasing cases of theft in town. “The first accused Raja was arrested when he was suspiciously moving about at the KSRTC bus stand. The six cases too came to light when he was questioned,” explained Banoth.

“The thieves had broken into the godown of Prashanth, a resident of Chowdareddy Palya in town about eight months ago. They had stolen 32 sacks of twine and oil cans, which were worth a total of Rs 90,000,” said the ASP. “Again, three months ago, there was a theft incident at the Tulasi Provision Store at KRS Complex. The miscreants had broken in, and stolen cartons of beedi, cigarette and provisions worth Rs 23,000.”

He added that another incident had been at the Nayana Provisions, where the thieves had made away with oil cans, cigarettes, rice bags, provisions and cash, all of which were worth Rs 1.73 lakh. “In December 2012, they had stolen 1,050 crates of tomato worth Rs two lakh from the godown belonging to Munavar Khan at the APMC market. A similar incident was at the godown of Nagendra Gupta at the old shandy maidan, where there was a theft of items worth Rs 36,000. The groundnut mill belonging to Raja Reddy at the APMC market too was broken into and 20 sacks of groundnuts, worth Rs 80,000 were stolen,” he said.

‘Joint effort’

The four thieves had joined hands to notice the movements of the police. They then broke into the stalls, made away with provisions worth thousands of rupees, which they all shared.

“The stolen items were mostly transported in the luggage auto rickshaw owned by the accused Munavar. The police have seized 60 sacks of rice, 20 sacks of groundnuts, 20 sacks of twine, 17 sacks of jaggery, 500 kg cashewnuts, beedis and cigarettes worth Rs 20,000, 1,050 empty crates of tomato, 50 kg coriander, groundnut oil and one luggage auto rickshaw, the worth adding up to Rs 6.79 lakh,” said Banoth.

Sub-inspector Basavaraju, ASI Srirama Reddy, chief constable Narayanaswamy, Krishnappa, constables Devaraju, Sarvesh, Shankar, Lakshmipathi, and Krishnappa were part of the investigating team.