Udupi: Udupi district police arrested three persons within four hours of a gold chain theft reported at Shankarapura in Kurkalu village of Kapu taluk on Saturday, demonstrating swift coordination between multiple police units.
The arrested have been identified as Anand alias Hasansab Amingad (49) of Joida taluk, Kiran Dharmaraj Godimani (19), and Shashidhar (19), both from Haliyal taluk in Uttara Kannada district.
Elderly woman targeted at home
According to police, the incident occurred around 9 a.m. when Helen D’Souza (69) was sitting in the backyard of her house, tying jasmine flowers along with a neighbour.
At that time, a former tenant identified as Arun arrived on a motorcycle accompanied by two others. The trio enquired about the availability of a room for rent. After D’Souza informed them that no room was available, they left the premises.
However, within minutes, one of the three men returned to the house and asked D’Souza for her mobile number. While she was sharing the number, he allegedly snatched her gold chain worth approximately ₹3.5 lakh and fled the spot on the waiting motorcycle along with his accomplices.
The sudden act left the elderly woman shocked, and a complaint was immediately filed at Shirva police station.
CCTV footage helps track suspects
Based on the complaint, Inspector Azmat Ali of Shirva police station initiated a prompt investigation. Police examined CCTV footage from the vicinity and identified a black motorcycle suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.
Alerts were issued to all police check-posts across Udupi district with details of the vehicle and suspects. The swift sharing of information enabled coordinated surveillance on major exit routes from the district.
The breakthrough came when the Byndoor police intercepted the motorcycle near the Shiroor check-post. The three accused were detained and subsequently arrested. They were later handed over to Shirva police for further investigation.
Stolen property recovered
Police said the stolen gold chain valued at ₹3.5 lakh was recovered from the accused. The motorcycle used in the crime was also seized as part of the investigation.
Officials stated that preliminary questioning is underway to ascertain whether the accused were involved in similar chain snatching incidents in Udupi district or neighbouring areas.
A case has been registered under Section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further legal procedures are being initiated.
Swift police action appreciated
The arrest operation was led by Inspectors Azmat Ali and Manjunath Marabad, along with PSI Sunil Kumar and their respective teams. Senior officers said the swift arrest within four hours of the crime reflects effective coordination between Shirva and Byndoor police units.
Police have also urged senior citizens to remain cautious and to report suspicious movements in their neighbourhoods promptly. The department reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and cracking down on property-related offences.
Further investigation is in progress.