Former techie turns serial burglar, commits 60 house break-ins across Andhra Pradesh; bought BMW with stolen gold

VISAKHAPATNAM: Gajuwaka police under Vizag police commissionerate on Saturday arrested a former software engineer in connection with 26 house break-in cases across Vizag city.

Police recovered around 700 gms of gold ornaments, 3.8 kg of silver ornaments, and a BMW car purchased with the stolen booty, a scooter, and some house breaking tools from the offender.The accused was identified as Achhi Mahesh Reddy (27), alias Sunny, a former software engineer. He is a resident of Park Street in Madhavadhara area of Vizag city, and a native of Kakinada district.

Vizag police chief Shankabrata Bagchi said a series of house break-in incidents were reported across parts of the city, and property worth over Rs 25 lakh (1,085 gms of gold, 6,333 gms of silver, and Rs 40,500 in cash) was looted.

After months of investigation, police got a concrete clue and nabbed Mahesh Reddy. Despite his education and previous employment at a prominent IT company in Hyderabad, Sunny took the crime route to lead a lavish life, police said.

Sunny was accused of property offences under PM Palem police station limits in Vizag city when he was 15 years old, and was sent to a juvenile home. After his release, he committed over 32 burglaries within the limits of Kakinada town, Sarapavaram, Ramachandrapuram, Indrapalem, and Rajahmundry police stations, police added.Sunny also served 14 months in Rajahmundry central jail. Altogether, he is said to be involved in over 60 house burglary cases. He occasionally returned to Visakhapatnam for thefts while living lavishly in Hyderabad, police added.