Navi Mumbai: Thief wanted for multiple thefts caught after being captured in CCTV, gold worth lakhs recovered

The recovered property and the accused in police custody. Pic/ Anurag Kamble

A 45-year-old thief had done everything to commit a multiple theft crimes. He did not carry his cellphone, avoided to carry any baggage and spotted places where CCTV cameras did not have the coverage, But, one house breaking theft that would get him enough let him skip his 'safe' routine and got him captured in CCTV footage which finally landed him in police net, the police said.

The Navi Mumbai crime branch recovered gold worth Rs 28.32 lakh from the accused, solving over twenty house breaking theft cases.

According to the police, a house breaking theft case was registered in Sector 3, Airoli on August 26 in which 434 grams of gold worth Rs 10.85 lakh was stolen. A 72-year-old retired teacher had gone for a funeral to Osmanabad in Maharashtra when theft had took place in his house. On the complaint, the police registered an offence against unknown person at Rabale police station. The Crime Branch Unit 1 officials were also conducting a parallel investigation of the crime.

The police said, cops started looking for CCTV footages, activated network of informers to get some clue about the accused. Finally, while checking one of the CCTV footages, the officials found a person walking and rushing to catch an autorikshaw. The officials checked his route and identified him as Santosh Ghanghav (45), a resident of Kalwa.

"Santosh was earlier arrested by Rabale cops in house breaking theft case," an official said.

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After collecting evidences, the officials arrested Santosh on September 7 and recovered 602 grams of golden ornaments worth Rs 28,32,800. During interrogations he also confessed of carrying out 20 house breaking thefts, he added.

"He was very sharp and did detailed study of CCTV cameras before conducting a theft. Accused had 14 previous cases and has now confessed of around 20 more theft crimes in Navi Mumbai since 2020," said Bipin Kumar Singh, Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Police.

The crime

Santosh was earlier arrested by cops and had learned that, he was traced by cops through CCTV footage. After committing house breaking thefts in Airoli area earlier, he started spotting street side and private cameras and marked the dark spots where he would not be captured. He had also marked his route towards Airoli T junction and had got success in the plan, sources said.

Santosh used to avoid carrying bags as he knew patrolling cops would suspect him. On August 26, he broke into a house and found what was more than his expectations. Having lot of jewellery he stuffed it in his pockets. He realised all his pockets were full and would raise suspicions if he encountered cops on the way back. As soon as he left the house he came on main road and took the autorikshaw, during this he was captured in a CCTV footage that led to his arrest, sources added.

Could not sell the booty

Santosh had stolen golden ornaments and two mobile phones but was unable to sell the property. He also decided to break the ornaments into small pieces and sell them. When cops raided his house they found more than 600 grams of gold.