Cottonpet jewellery shop thief caught in filmy style

The Bengaluru police have arrested a thief who drilled a hole in the ceiling of Platinum Deluxe lodge at Cottonpet to steal from jewellery shop below and escaped, within 24 hours near Kittur, Belagavi district.

Police seized 1.3 kg gold, 10 kg silver valued at Rs 44.60 lakh from Mohammad Hussain (32) from Gujarat. Hussain was travelling back to Gujarat on Sunday night, after the loot.  He was caught near Kittur in Belagavi district informed (West) DCP M N Anucheth to mediapersons, reports Kannada Prabha.

Mohammad Hussain had left home in Gujarat some years ago and was a professional thief. He was staying at Kalaburgi for five years. He was working at a construction site. On June 19, he came to Bengaluru and inspected several jewellery shops in the City. Finally, he zeroed down on the Kanchan jewellery shop in Cottonpet. He first rented a room just above the jewellery shop in the first floor but later shifted to the next room on June 20 saying he wanted a bigger room. He would leave the room at around 8 am and return in the evening. He would start drilling past midnight and drill till morning. He used four soundless drilling machines to accomplish his work.

On July 8, the jewellery shop was closed. He completed drilling a hole, jumped down and looted the shop. The rent for the room he had taken was Rs 350 per day. Everyday, he was paying the rent and said he would be leaving on Saturday evening. But he went away without giving the key and on Sunday morning the theft was found out.

A special team was formed to nab the thief. Fortunately, the lodge had his photo for identification. The police went to every bus depot and bus agencies and tried to get information. It was reported that he had taken a bus to Hubballi on Sunday morning 6 am. Immediately, the police went on Bengaluru-Pune Highway. He had reached Hubballi on Sunday night and had booked himself a room at a hotel. He had also booked a bus ticket to travel to Gujarat at night. Before the police could reach Hubballi, the bus with the accused had left Hubballi and had passed Kittur and was travelling on Belagavi road. The bus was halted at a hotel near Kittur for lunch. The police team reached the place and immediately, the lodge owner recognised him. ACP Niranjaraj Urs, Kamakshipalya inspector Harish and PSI Murthy arrested him, reports Kannada Prabha.

The accused Hussain revealed that he had noted the shop as he frequently had tea from a shop opposite the jewellery shop. Though he used a silent drill, customers in the lodge had complained to the lodge management that they were unable to sleep due to some noise but the management ignored their complaints, reports Kannada Prabha. The lodge had a photograph of Hussain which helped the police to act quick. They sent the photo to the bus driver and conductor and they confirmed that such a man was in the bus. Soon, after reaching Hubballi, Hussain had shaved his head to disguise himself. It was the lodge owner who recognised him. The identity card that Hussain had given at the lodge was cross checked with the electoral roll but the details did not match. DCP Anucheth said they are investigating this.

Earlier, Hussain had looted a co-operative bank at Belagavi and stolen Rs 15 lakh cash and 300 gm gold. He had returned home to Gujarat and did not reveal anything to his family. He got his two sisters married in that money. He had come to Bengaluru on May 19 and then had gone to Mangaluru. He had dug a tunnel to a finance company office but had found only Rs 1,500 in Mangaluru. Then he came back to Bengaluru and planned jewellery heist.

Hussain was working at a construction site from childhood and was skilled at drilling. He used this skill to dig into more jewellery shops. Every time he committed a crime, he would shave his head. Reports said that Hussain was involved in betting and had suffered losses. 

• Cottonpet jwelry shop theft
• ceiling drilled to jewelry shop
• karnataka