Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jan 9: A police team comprising personnel from both Padubidri and Kaup circles succeeded in arresting an infamous thief involved with a number of inter-district thefts. 'Itthe Barpe' Abubakar, notorious for his involvement with house thefts since several years, was taken into custody and gold ornaments weighing 38 grams, stolen from a house in Admar on December 26 were seized from his possession.
70 grams of gold ornaments valued at Rs 1.65 lac and Rs 6,000 in cash had been stolen from the house of Janardhana Rao living near Poornaprajna PU College at Admar on the night of December 26, when family members were sound asleep. A case had been registered in Padubidri police station about this theft.
Abubakar alias Abdul Khadar (60) from Uppalli in Chikkamagaluru district is notorious for thefts and his inimitable style of giving police a slip. He also is known with names like 'Itthe Barpe' Abubakar and Kinetic Abubakar. The police could locate his whereabouts and arrest him on the basis of a clinching clue they stumbled upon at the spot of crime. Two bangles, a necklace and a finger ring, totally weighing 38 grams, were recovered from their possession. The police are on the look out for another person who provided company to Abubakar during the above theft.
The police said that Abubakar's style of stealing happens to be unique, as far as choosing only houses that are located away from other houses, not taking any implements or equipment for committing thefts, using sticks, wire etc which are available around the house for entering the house and stealing things, and also his skill in removing bolts of doors without breaking the locks during thefts are considered.
The above two thieves had entered the house by opening the inside bolt of the door through the open window. They had come out with a purse containing cash but again entered the house, as they felt that the booty was not hefty enough. They opened a wooden almirah in which both lock and key were found together, and stole a purse containing gold ornaments. They boarded a vehicle carrying vegetable at Yermal, reached Mangaluru, and parted ways after sharing the stolen items. Police said that these thieves had attended a Duf programme held at Yermal that day, before walking to the house at Admar three km away.
Police circle inspector, Sunil Nayak, said that Abubakar had been caught when planning for a theft at Padubidri seven years back, and he also has a case of theft which happened at Mulky against him. He said that the police waited for him and nabbed him when he was going to Bantwal court to adduce evidence on January 4. His family members immediately filed a habeas corpus petition in the court on January 5 and asked Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police (SP) to find him out. However, the police had produced him in court on January 5 and taken him into custody for investigation by then, Nayak added.
The raid was conducted by Kaup police circle inspector, Sunil Nayak under the guidance of district SP, Annamalai, additional SP, Santosh Kumar, and Karkala assistant SP, Dr Suman, with the participation of Padubidri police sub-inspector, Azmat Ali and others.