Bengaluru police arrest notorious thief 'Parivala Manja'

Bengaluru: The City Market police have arrested a man accused of breaking into locked houses at night and committing thefts.

The accused, identified as Manjunath alias “Parivala Manja” (39), a resident of Thigalarapete, was apprehended. The police seized 475 grams of gold ornaments worth Rs 30 lakh and two-wheelers used in the crime.

Initially, the accused used to release pigeons from the rooftops of buildings. Using the excuse of catching these pigeons, he would break the locks of houses and steal valuables, which earned him the nickname “Parivala Manja.”

Recently, he had been roaming various parts of the city during the day, identifying locked houses, and returning at night to break in and rob them. He would sell the stolen items to various jewellery shops and indulge in a luxurious lifestyle.

In one such incident, Upesh Bhandari, a resident of Chickpet, had locked his house and left for his hometown for work. On returning on April 5, he discovered that his house had been burgled. The police arrested Manja in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district in connection with this case.

Over 30 Theft Cases Registered Against the Accused

Manjunath is a professional thief with a long history of criminal activities. Police investigations have revealed that he had over 30 house theft cases registered against him in different police stations, including Chickpet, Halasuru Gate, S.J. Park, Banashankari, Shankarpura, and Vidyaranyapura.

Despite being jailed several times, he would secure bail and continue his theft spree. Only five months ago, he had been released on bail and had resumed his criminal activities across the city before going into hiding in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, the police said.