Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 11: Mangaluru City police have cracked two separate property theft cases by arresting the accused, including a key chain-snatching suspect who had escaped from police custody and a 40-year-old man accused of stealing a donation box containing Rs 15,000 from a temple in Surathkal, according to a press release issued by the Mangaluru City police commissioner.

The first case dates back to June 14, 2026, when a woman’s gold chain was snatched near the village accountant’s office at Sooterpete and the accused fled on a motorcycle.

As part of the operation to trace those involved, police detained three accused near Rosario School in Pandeshwar on June 26 and were taking them to the police station when key accused Altaf Hussain, a native of Bagalkote, allegedly attacked an on-duty police personnel, pushed him and escaped from custody.

The police personnel sustained minor injuries, following which a case was registered at Mangaluru South police station under Crime No. 133/2026, invoking Sections 121(1), 132 and 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Police had already recovered the stolen gold chain and motorcycle from Ravi Bora and Mohammed Sahil Siddiqui alias Mohammed Sahil, both residents of Uttar Pradesh.

A special team was formed to track down Altaf Hussain. After sustained efforts and acting on credible information, the team traced him to Vijayapura (Bijapur) city on August 10. He was chased and apprehended by Pandeshwar South police station sub-inspector Maruti P, along with police personnel Lakshman Salotgi, Sagar and Anjaneya. He was later produced before the court for further legal proceedings. Police said six cases have been registered against him in different parts of Karnataka.

In the second case, Surathkal police arrested Sukhesh Naik, 40, in connection with the theft of a donation box from Kordagabbu Daivasthana at Madhya Kodipady, Surathkal.

The theft occurred at around 1.30 am on August 5, when the accused allegedly broke open the daivasthana’s door and window using an iron weapon, entered the premises and stole the donation box containing around Rs 15,000 in cash.

Surathkal police registered Crime No. 96/2026 under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the BNS and launched an investigation. Acting on credible information, police detained Sukhesh Naik at Surathkal railway station on August 10.

Sukhesh Naik, a resident of Bellappalli, Kukkikatte, Mangala Mill, Kukkihalli village of Udupi taluk and district reportedly admitted to committing the theft during questioning. He was produced before the Mangaluru city court on August 11.

Police said further investigation revealed that 18 cases have been registered against Sukhesh Naik at various police stations in Udupi district, and that he had been convicted in one case. Police also found that arrest warrants were pending against him at various police stations in the district.