Karkala: The Karkala Rural Police have arrested a 39-year-old man from West Bengal for allegedly committing a series of thefts by breaking into locked and vacant houses within the limits of the Karkala Rural Police Station. The accused, identified as Manotosh Kayal, was residing at Ganjimath in Mogaru village of Mangaluru district at the time of his arrest, police said.

According to police officials, the arrest was made following a focused investigation into recent incidents of house break-ins reported from rural areas around Karkala. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody after being produced before the court.

Modus operandi revealed during investigation

Police said Manotosh Kayal had adopted a systematic method to identify and target houses that were locked for several days. During the morning hours, he would roam through different localities, closely observing houses that appeared unoccupied.

Once he confirmed that the residents were away, the accused would break open the locks and gain entry into the premises. He would then steal items that could be easily transported and sold, police said.

In the case registered recently, a battery kept inside one such house was stolen. Investigators believe the accused deliberately chose items that would attract less immediate attention, allowing him to evade suspicion for longer periods.

Case registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Based on a complaint, a case was registered at the Karkala Rural Police Station in Crime No. 143/2025 under Sections 331(3) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. These sections pertain to offences involving house-breaking and theft.

Police officials said the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were invoked following a preliminary assessment of the offence and available evidence. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in similar thefts reported earlier in the region.

Coordinated police operation

The arrest was carried out under the guidance of Udupi District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar and Additional Superintendent of Police Sudhakar. The operation was conducted as per the directions of Karkala Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhu D.T.

A special team was formed to track the accused based on local intelligence and technical inputs. The team was led by Karkala Circle Inspector of Police Manjappa and included Karkala Rural Police Sub-Inspector Prasanna M.S., PSI Sundar, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Prakash and Sundar Gowda, Head Constables Rudresh and Chandrashekar, and Police Constables Santosh and Mantesh.

Dinesh from the District and CDR division also assisted the team by providing call detail records and other technical support, which helped in tracing the movements of the accused.

Arrest and recovery

Police said the accused was arrested after sustained surveillance and questioning. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to committing thefts by breaking open locks of vacant houses.

The stolen battery connected to the registered case was recovered based on information provided by the accused, officials said. Police are now verifying whether the accused sold or attempted to sell stolen items in nearby areas.

Officials added that efforts are underway to determine if the accused is linked to other unsolved house theft cases reported in rural parts of Karkala and neighbouring police station limits.

Growing concern over house break-ins

Police officials noted that incidents of house thefts tend to increase when residents leave their homes locked for extended periods due to work, travel or social functions. Rural areas, where houses are often isolated, are particularly vulnerable.

The police have advised residents to take precautionary measures such as informing neighbours before leaving homes locked, installing secure locks, and reporting suspicious movement in their locality promptly.

Judicial custody ordered

After completing the arrest formalities, the accused was produced before the court. Considering the nature of the offence, the court remanded him to judicial custody.

Police said further investigation is in progress, and additional charges may be added if his involvement in other cases is established.

Conclusion

The arrest of Manotosh Kayal highlights the sustained efforts of the Karkala Rural Police to curb property-related crimes in the region. Officials reiterated their commitment to preventing house thefts through increased patrolling, community awareness and swift action against offenders, while urging the public to cooperate with police by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities.