Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Dec 21: A thief took advantage of smoke from a puja ritual (homa) during a house warming ceremony at Ullal in the presence of several people and stole cash and valuables. The same thief also broke into another house in the neighbourhood that night.

The incident took place near Kotekar under Ullal police station limits.

A couple, Smita and Damodar, had performed Vastu homa ritual at Adkebail, Kotekar town on December 10 in the house which was newly constructed by them. A young man wearing trousers entered the house in the presence of all taking advantage of the cover of smoke from the puja ritual. He entered the room and decamped with Rs 15,000 cash, mobile charger and cosmetics from the cupboards. The footage of the theif’s entry and exit from the room is captured on the camera of the professional photographer who was at the house warming ceremony.

The thief also struck the house of Shiva Subrahmanya Prasad Bhat nearby that night when there was nobody in the house. He broke open the house door and stole Rs 11,000 cash, 32 grams gold, eight silver coins, three expensive watches, all together worth Rs 1,49,000.

The thief was accompanied by another person looking similar to him. The footage of the duo travelling on a two wheeler to Adkabail was captured on a nearby CCTV camera on December 10.

Ullal station police have registered a case and are trying to nab the accused on the basis of the CCTV footage.