The Kushalnagar town police have arrested a gang of five and have solved various cases related to temple thefts and house burglary and thefts.

Sanjay Kumar (25), resident of Gandhi Nagar, P K Ravi (30), Gandhi Nagar in Choudlu village, Ismail (28), Gowda Samaj Road, C S Sudev (35), Alekatte Road and N C Chandra, linehouse, Bharati Company Estate, Hangal, in the district.

SP P Rajendra Prasad told reporters on Tuesday here that the police have recovered gold valuables worth Rs 6 lakh, 150 gm of silver valuables, three mobile phones, 225 kg pepper, autorickshaw, two cudgels, rope and chilli powder used for crime.

Sanjay Kumar, the prime suspect, was wanted in five house burglary cases registered at Somwarpet, Madikeri, Suntikoppa and Mysuru, one pepper theft case, three temple theft and also three vehicle lifting cases.

The remaining suspects too have criminal antecedent, with one case registered against each of them.

They were moving in a suspicious manner at the fair ground in Gundurao Layout in Kushalnagar on Monday night, when they came under the police net. During interrogation, it further emerged that the prime suspect Sanjay Kumar was evading arrest warrant served from Kushalnagar court in two cases, five in Somwarpet court and one each in Channarayapatna and Arkalgod in Hassan district.

All the five were wanted in theft case at Bajegundi Temple, Somwarpet, Kannambadi Amma Temples at Negalli and Karkalli, Ganapati temple on Madapur road, house burglary and theft case at Mangaladevi Nagar on Moornad road, Hittlumakki in Abbur Katte, series of theft at Abbur Katte village, vehicle theft at Janata Colony, Somwarpet and pepper theft at Hangal, SP said.

The SP also announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for the police team for cracking the cases.