Maharashtra: New look, new city; how a thief evaded the cops

(From left) PSI Mahesh Lamkhade, constable Mahesh Shinde, constable Rajendra Khairnar and constable Bhagwan Dabhade with the accused. Pics/ Police Sources

As if taking a hint from the early con career of Frank Abagnale, as seen in the movie 'Catch me if you can,' a 34-year-old thief wanted in 16 offences, managed to evade re-arrest for nearly two years due to his habit of changing his looks and whereabouts. The Navghar police took Om Satpute alias Pappu, who only targeted donation boxes in temples, into custody after his re-arrest at Neral recently.

The Mulund Magistrate Court had declared Om absconding in September 2018 as he stopped appearing for the hearings of a theft case registered against him in 2011. Police Sub-Inspector Mahesh Lamkhade and his team of constables Rajendra Khairnar, Bhagwan Dabhade and Mahesh Shinde, were trying to find him.

The various looks of Om Satpute since he began stealing in 2008:

No trace of him

"There were 16 offences registered against him in different police stations in many states. He had given his parent's address while filing documents in court, but had never gone home for the past 10 years. We even checked his social media accounts and tried to track him down through them, but he used 25 different phones to operate them and destroyed the mobiles after use," said PSI Lamkhade.

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A police party went to his native place in Shirur, Pune and found he had never been there. Records of all jails in the state were searched but nothing about Om was found. Mortuaries and hospitals were also contacted but no information was available. During the pandemic, all districts were also contacted to share information about Om if he got admitted.

Held in another offence

"Recently we got a tip off from an informer, that a person was arrested by Neral police in the last week of April for stealing a donation box. The photographs which we had and the person who was arrested looked totally different. He was trying to hide his identity. Finally after interrogation he revealed his real name and we managed to take him into custody," said PSI Lamkhade.

Satpute, an HSC failure, started stealing donation boxes in 2008. The police said after every crime he would change his hairstyle and attire. He would keep a gap between offences in the same city at more than 2 to 3 years, enough to change his look completely. He has been sent to judicial custody in Taloja.

"This is a really exceptional job by our men. The accused was smart enough to change his looks and go into hiding for a long time after every crime. We think more offences will be revealed against him," said Sushil Kamble, senior inspector, Navghar police station.