Pune Police Arrest Serial Burglar Linked To 64 Thefts; Gold And Silver Worth ₹17 Lakh Seized
Pune Police Arrest Serial Burglar Linked To 64 Thefts; Gold And Silver Worth ₹17 Lakh Seized
Pune: The Pune city police have arrested a 31-year-old man allegedly involved in 64 house break-ins, recovering gold and silver ornaments worth ₹17 lakh along with burglary tools. The accused, identified as Harshad Gulab Pawar, a resident of Mulshi taluka, had been using clever tactics to evade capture.
Police investigations revealed that Pawar changed his clothes after each theft and traveled up to 50 kilometers through narrow lanes to avoid detection via CCTV cameras. “We have recovered 236.53 grams of gold, 212 grams of silver, and various other valuables from the accused. Further investigation is underway to identify more cases and recover additional stolen items,” stated Sandip Singh Gill, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1.
Authorities confirmed Pawar’s involvement in 13 recent thefts and seized 49 keys believed to have been used in the crimes. A habitual offender with a criminal record dating back to 2008, Pawar continued his illegal activities after being released on bail in November 2023.
Senior Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant explained that Pawar adopted unusual techniques to mislead investigators. “Whenever he encountered CCTV cameras, he pretended to talk on his phone to avoid suspicion,” said Sawant.
Police discovered that Pawar targeted homes during daylight hours after conducting a recce of the area. The stolen items were allegedly sold with the help of an accomplice, identified as Nilkanth Raut, who is currently absconding.
The breakthrough came when police arrested an individual named Shubham Giri at Shivajinagar railway station earlier this week in connection with a separate robbery. Giri’s interrogation provided crucial leads, resulting in Pawar’s capture at Mhasoba Gate bus stop on February 4.
Further investigations are ongoing to uncover additional thefts linked to the accused and apprehend his associate.
