Sri Sathya Sai police arrest interstate burglar wanted in 16 cases

Tirupati: Sri Sathya Sai district police have cracked 16 residential theft cases by arresting a notorious interstate burglar active for 25 years, alongside three accomplices.The targeted operation led to the recovery of gold and silver ornaments valued at over Rs 31.5 lakh. Superintendent of Police S Satish Kumar announced that special teams identified the gang through scientific investigation and CCTV analysis.The primary accused, 41-year-old Mallela Veeranjaneyulu, faces 30 to 40 theft cases across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. His arrested associates include Sake Narasimhulu, Devarakonda Vijay, and Gujjala Narayanamma.The gang targeted low-traffic areas, conducting daytime reconnaissance before breaking locks at night. They used an auto-rickshaw to transport stolen property, liquidating the gold at local financial institutions. Police recovered 11 tolas of gold, silver items, and Muthoot Finance pawn receipts worth Rs 17 lakhs for 13 tolas of pledged gold.Following the breakthrough, SP Satish Kumar advised residents to enhance home security. He urged the public to install quality CCTV cameras, arrange community night watches, and utilise the police department’s Locked House Monitoring System (LHMS) when travelling out of town.