Drunk Thief Falls Asleep Mid-Robbery, Caught Inside The Very House In Karnataka

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 13:56 IST

Police said Devaraju had consumed excessive alcohol and was unable to make his exit. Instead, he reportedly sat on a sofa inside the house and fell asleep.

A burglary reported from Gauribidanur of Karnataka has drawn attention for the unexpected way it unfolded inside a residential house near the old RTO office on the outskirts of the town. Police say the incident occurred late on Sunday night, when the house appeared to be unoccupied and the surroundings largely silent.

What initially seemed like a carefully planned theft took a turn that neither the accused nor the police likely anticipated.

The accused, Devaraju, 40, was not unknown to the house owner, Premanath. Police said Devaraju had previously worked at the house as a painter and was familiar with its layout. He was also aware that Premanath had travelled to Hyderabad for work, leaving the house locked.

Using this knowledge, Devaraju allegedly planned the burglary along with a friend.

Late at night, the two arrived on a motorcycle. To avoid identification, they covered the vehicle’s number plate with a black cover and parked it in a nearby layout before approaching the house.

Entry through the roof

According to the police, the duo entered the house by cutting through the roofing sheet. Once inside, they opened a cupboard and took Rs 45,000 in cash along with gold jewellery kept inside the house.

After collecting the valuables, the two parted ways.

Devaraju’s friend reportedly fled the spot immediately with most of the stolen cash and jewellery. Devaraju, however, did not leave the house.

When the plan began to fall apart

Police said Devaraju had consumed excessive alcohol and was unable to make his exit. Instead, he reportedly sat on a sofa inside the house and fell asleep.

During the night, neighbours noticed unusual activity around the house. Sensing something was wrong, they kept watch instead of intervening directly.

Realising that the burglars had entered through the roof, the neighbours placed cement bricks over the cut roofing sheet, effectively blocking the exit route. They continued to monitor the house until morning, when they informed the rural police.

Arrest and recovery

When police arrived, Devaraju was found inside the house. A search led to the recovery of Rs 5,000 from his pocket. The remaining cash and gold jewellery had already been taken away by the accomplice, who is currently absconding.

Premanath later filed a complaint at the Rural Police Station stating that Rs 45,000 in cash and gold jewellery had been stolen from his house.

Police said efforts are ongoing to trace the second accused. The case stands as an example of how familiarity with a house and careful planning can still collapse due to poor judgement, and an unexpected night spent at the scene of the crime.

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