Mumbai: Armed with teeth, cops nab thief in Borivli

Screengrab of the CCTV showing the accused falling

While attempting to escape after committing theft in Borivli, a burglar known as the "Spider-Man thief" reportedly fell from the second floor of the building, breaking two teeth and fracturing one leg. Four months later, the MHB Colony police managed to apprehend him thanks to the two broken teeth discovered at the crime scene. The arrested suspect has been identified as Rohit Rathod, aged 29.

We searched more than 400 hospitals in the city and its vicinity before finally arresting him at his residence in Dahisar. This has helped us solve two burglary cases that he committed in our jurisdiction before sustaining the injuries," said an officer. Rathod, a habitual offender with 19 burglary cases to his name, has previously been arrested by multiple police stations, including DN Nagar, Kandivli, Borivli, Vakola, Santacruz, Dahisar, Kasturba Marg, and others. He had been a ‘Tadipar' from Vakola police station for one year.

Rohit in hospital after sustaining injuries

In the recent case, he entered a flat on the second floor of Arpita Apartment on Rajaram Tavde Road in Mahatrewadi, Dahisar West, on June 22. A 32-year-old resident noticed the robbery, alerting other household members, but the accused managed to escape by jumping out of a kitchen window. "The complainant reported the incident to the police," said an officer from MHB Colony police station.

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Under the guidance of DCP Ajaykumar Bansal of Zone 11 and Senior Inspector Sudhir Kudalkar, along with API Suryakant Pawar and PSI Akhilesh Bhombay, an investigation was initiated. Two broken teeth and bloodstains were discovered within the building premises. Reviewing CCTV footage, the accused was seen falling from the building, which led to his injuries. His teeth broke and fell to the ground, and one of his legs was fractured. He remained in pain for a brief period, eventually dragging himself near the compound wall, jumping over it, and escaping, as described by an officer.

"Due to the darkness, his face was not visible in the CCTV footage. Injured and in need of medical attention, we formed various teams and checked numerous hospitals in the suburb, but no clues emerged. We assigned a constable from the police station the responsibility of visiting different hospitals in the city daily to search for him," the officer continued. Last week, the constable located him in a hospital in Vakola where he was receiving treatment. The police kept him under surveillance, and as soon as he returned home after being discharged, he was arrested, the officer added.

400
No of hospitals cops searched for thief