B’luru: Gold chain snatching inter-state thief arrested

Bengaluru: An man has been arrested for allegedly stealing motorbikes and gold chains of women. He was involved in several theft cases in major cities in India, police said.

The accused, identified as Umesh alias Umesh Khatik (26) from Ahmedabad in Gujarat, was involved in three theft cases in Bengaluru that happened in December 2021. Stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 4 lakhs have been confiscated from his possession, the cops added.

Detailing his modus operandi, the cops said, that Umesh arrived in major cities by flight, stole motorbikes, and used them to steal gold chains from lone women walking on the road. thereafter he fled the city via trains to Gujarat.

By his quick getaway, Umesh had been evading arrest for a long time. There are more than 30 theft cases pending against him in different cities including Gujarat. Hyderabad police even had announced a Rs 1 lakh prize for his arrest, police said.

On December 26, 2021, Umesh arrived in Bengaluru by a flight and stole a scooter in Malleshwaram. Riding on the same bike he had robbed Usha (62) at knifepoint and fled with the 30-gram gold Mangalya chain and another 8-gram gold chain from her. He had later targetted 2 other women in the town and fled to Gujarat on a train.

Police said, Umesh sold the stolen gold at small jewellery shops and used the money to take his wife on luxury trips.