Theft, chain-snatching rings busted

By Sanjana S

Stolen two-wheelers, gold chains worth Rs 16 lakh recovered

Police have dismantled multiple criminal networks, recovering stolen two-wheelers and gold chains worth Rs.16 lakh and bringing several theft cases to light.

The first major breakthrough began with a complaint filed on September 24, by a resident of Kurubarahalli. The complainant had parked their two-wheeler on 15th Main Road, Mahalakshmi Layout, before attending a Ganesha procession. Upon returning at 9.15 pm, the vehicle was missing.

The police launched an investigation. On November 20, they apprehended a suspect near Taj Hotel, Goraguntepalya, along with a stolen two-wheeler. Under interrogation, the suspect confessed to stealing bikes across the city. Following the lead, police seized eight more vehicles parked near a house in Jai Maruthi Nagar.

The arrest of a second suspect on November 21 near Nandini Layout revealed more stolen goods. Authorities seized another seven two-wheelers parked in a vacant lot. Further investigation uncovered five more vehicles, recovered after notifying buyers, who unknowingly purchased the stolen goods.

In total, 21 two-wheelers valued at ₹6.5 lakh were confiscated. The case linked thefts across eight police stations, solving 12 cases.

Series of gold chain snatchings
On November 6, another case unraveled when a Yelahanka resident reported a gold chain snatching incident. While walking near Jakkur Main Road, the complainant was accosted by two men on a two-wheeler who fled with a 21-gram Mangalya chain. Yelahanka Police have cracked a series of gold chain snatchings, recovering 60 grams of gold and two stolen two-wheelers, valued at ₹4.15 lakh.

Acting on informant leads and surveillance data, the police arrested two suspects near Allalasandra Bridge on November 18, recovering the vehicle used in the crime. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to additional snatchings in Vidyaranyapura and KR Puram. On November 19, authorities recovered the stolen Mangalya chain from a finance company in Kodigehalli.

Further investigations led to the retrieval of another 14-gram chain from a jewellery workshop in Doddaballapur on November 22. The following day, a 25-gram chain was seized from a friend of the accused in Singanayakanahalli. The accused, linked to three abduction cases across Yelahanka, Vidyaranyapura, and KR Puram, were presented in court on November 19 and remanded to police custody for five days. On November 23, they were again produced in court and sent to judicial custody. The police continue to investigate, aiming to uncover any additional crimes connected to the duo.

High-value robbery

A resident of Mahadevapura reported a chain snatching on November 21. As per the complaint, the victim was coming home from a nearby store after buying milk, when two assailants snatched a 60-gram gold Mangalya chain and fled on a two-wheeler.

Police apprehended the suspects on November 22 from an apartment in Kodigehalli. During interrogation, the duo confessed to the crime. Authorities recovered the stolen chain, valued at ₹5 lakh, from a car parked outside the suspects’ residence, along with the two-wheeler used in the offence.