Serial robber arrested; valuables worth ₹1.84 crore seized

The Byappanahalli Police have arrested a serial housebreaker and have recovered gold ornaments and other valuables worth ₹1.84 crore.

The accused has been identified as Abbigere Raja, 43. Police said he had been involved in house burglary cases for the past five years and was arrested for the first time. He is a resident of Abbigere

Following his arrest, police have found out about four house theft cases, including three under the Byappanahalli Police Station limits and one at Ramamurthy Nagar.

From the accused, police seized 1 kg and 232 grams of gold ornaments, a two-wheeler and a mobile phone, collectively valued at ₹1.84 crore.

Police said that on April 18, 2025, the accused broke into the house of Uday Kumar, an NGEF Layout resident of Sadananda Nagar, Byappanahalli, while the family had gone to Kundapur. Based on a complaint, Byappanahalli police inspector Shivakumar P. and his team conducted a detailed investigation and arrested the accused at Abbigere on January 4.

The accused was produced before a court and taken into 28 days’ police custody. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to committing thefts and selling stolen gold ornaments at jewellery shops in Kammanahalli, Abbigere and Hennur, and to individuals in Abbigere, Jalahalli and Goa.

Police said the accused was working as a travel agent in Davanagere. After suffering losses during the Covid period, he allegedly began committing burglaries while wearing a mask to avoid identification.