In a bizarre turn of events, Bengaluru police arrested a 35-year-old serial burglar who claimed his crimes weren’t for personal enrichment, but to fund the education of poor students.

The accused, Shivu alias Shivarappan of Begur, was nabbed along with his accomplices Anil and Vivek by Byadarahalli police. The trio is linked to multiple house break-ins across the city’s west division. Shivu alone has 11 cases registered against him.

What stunned investigators was Shivu’s alleged motive. “I spent the money on school and college fees for 20 poor children,” he told police, suggesting a Robin Hood-style mission. While officers remain skeptical, they haven’t entirely ruled out his claims. “It’s one of the more unusual justifications we’ve heard. He claims to have spent ₹14 lakh on education. We’re verifying,” an officer said.

The police recovered 260 grams of stolen gold, part of which had been sold in Tamil Nadu. However, ₹14 lakh remains untraced — allegedly spent on school fees and purchasing two autorickshaws (₹4 lakh each) for his aides.

Shivu also confessed he once contemplated suicide due to the shame of his criminal life but found purpose in helping struggling students. “Even if I had to steal, I wanted to help them,” he reportedly told police.

Despite the emotional narrative, police are cautious. “He may be seeking sympathy. We’ll investigate thoroughly. But crime, no matter the motive, is still crime,” said a senior officer.

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