Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 2: A team led by Kota sub-inspector of police, Mahesh Prasad, and policemen of the special intelligence squad of the district, arrested a gang of thieves comprising four members. The gang reportedly was involved with breaking open the rolling shutters of shops at night and stealing valuables from there. The gang moved about in a Ford Ikon car with an altered number plate.

The policemen said that the thieves, who were in the car, tried to flee as soon as their vehicle was intercepted near Bannady within Kota police station limits on July 21. The arrested men have been identified as Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur district, Nityanand Shetty from Marathhalli in Bangalore, Prasad R from R T Nagar Bangalore, and Gangadhar, also from Tarikere taluk.

An auto gas cylinder, an oxygen cylinder, a gas cutter, two iron rods, and hand gloves were recovered from their possession. The policemen said the gang was involved with a number of thefts in Uppunda, Kota, Saligram etc, and also a failed theft attempt on a jewellery shop in Cherkady in the taluk. They also were involved with a number of serial thefts in Kota recently.

Gold ornaments valued at Rs 4,43,000, silver valuables worth Rs 53,000, a Swift D’Zire car valued at Rs 7.25 lac, and a Ford Ikon car bought out of the money earned through thefts, have been recovered from the possession of the thieves. The policemen said that the gang was involved with 42 cases of thefts. Ramesh Kumar, a member of the gang, also faces a case relating to the murder of his accomplice in Ajjampura in Chikmagalur district. He had been evading appearance in courts too after securing release on bail in January this year, they added.