Bengaluru, August 17, 2024 — In a significant operation targeting a notorious gold theft gang, Bengaluru police have arrested eight individuals linked to a series of high-profile burglaries across the city. The crackdown has resulted in the recovery of 1 kilogram of gold jewelry valued at approximately ₹1.86 crore.
The police operation yielded a total of 1,455 grams of gold ornaments, marking a substantial blow to the criminal syndicate responsible for multiple house burglaries. The seized jewelry is a testament to the scale and audacity of the gang’s criminal activities.
The arrested individuals are known criminals with extensive histories of serious offenses. Their criminal record includes multiple cases of murder, robbery, house theft, and kidnapping. The gang’s strategy involved targeting unoccupied homes, often during times when residents were away, such as during hospital visits or vacations.
One of the more audacious incidents occurred on May 11 in Banashankari. During this burglary, the gang targeted a home while the resident was undergoing eye surgery. The culprits made off with a large amount of gold jewelry. This case led to the arrest of Narasimha Reddy and Vinu Chakraborty from Solur, Nelamangala. Reddy had 49 cases registered against him, while Chakraborty had six.
Narasimha Reddy was reportedly hiding in the forest areas of Gudemaranahalli and Krishnagiri near Nelamangala. The gang’s preferred method was to target isolated houses, breaking in when no one was present. The stolen goods were used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury vehicles.
A thorough search operation resulted in the recovery of gold ornaments worth ₹81.25 lakh, found buried beneath a rock in a forest. Additional stolen jewelry had been pawned. The police also seized the vehicles used by the gang to facilitate their crimes.
In another case, Raghu alias Pepsi and Karthik alias Escape Karthik were arrested for breaking into a house near Faiz Masjid in Kumaraswamy Layout. They stole gold and silver jewelry worth ₹31 lakh. Raghu, with 27 cases against him, was known for distributing the stolen loot among his girlfriend and friends. Karthik had a criminal record spanning 38 cases.
From Raghu’s girlfriend’s house in Kaverinagar, Banashankari, police recovered 48 grams of gold. Further seizures included gold jewelry from a pawn shop. These arrests represent a significant advance in Bengaluru’s efforts to combat crime.
In light of these developments, the Bengaluru police have urged residents to stay vigilant and implement security measures to protect their homes. The recent arrests and recoveries highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to address and reduce criminal activities in the city.