Udupi, Karnataka: In a major breakthrough, Manipal Police have successfully cracked a house burglary case and arrested two members of an inter-state theft gang known as “TATTO 313”, recovering stolen gold ornaments worth approximately ₹7.90 lakh.
The case originated from a complaint lodged by Amit Daniel, a resident of Kunjibettu Manchikodi in Shivalli village under the jurisdiction of Manipal Police Station. On the night of February 3, 2026, the complainant had locked his residence and gone to stay at his mother’s house. In the early hours of February 4, a neighbor informed him that the house door was open. Upon inspection, he discovered that unknown persons had broken into the house and stolen around 75 grams of gold ornaments valued at ₹7 lakh. Based on the complaint, Manipal Police registered a case under Crime No. 15/2026 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and commenced an investigation.
A major breakthrough came on June 6, 2026, when PSI (Investigation) Shambhulingaiah and crime staff personnel Raviraj and Manjunath, while conducting night patrol duty near Indrali Railway Godown Road in Shivalli village, noticed two individuals moving suspiciously. During questioning, the suspects were found carrying tools and materials commonly used for housebreaking.
The suspects were identified as Darshan R. (21) of Bengaluru and Chandru (26) of Davangere district. During sustained interrogation, the duo confessed that they had been targeting locked houses located near railway tracks and were preparing to commit further thefts in the area. The housebreaking tools in their possession were seized.
Further investigation by Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad revealed that the two suspects were directly involved in the burglary registered under Crime No. 15/2026. Following their arrest and production before the court, the accused were taken into police custody for recovery of the stolen property.
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they had concealed the stolen gold ornaments in a lodge room in Shivamogga. Acting on this information, the police team proceeded to Shivamogga and recovered the stolen property, including a 39.70-gram gold Karimani chain, a 13.30-gram gold necklace, a pair of gold earrings weighing 3.15 grams, and a 3.87-gram gold chain, together weighing approximately 60 grams and valued at around ₹7.90 lakh. Two mobile phones were also seized from their possession.
Investigations revealed that the accused are members of the notorious “TATTO 313” gang, whose members bear the tattoo “TATTO 313” on their hands. The gang is known for targeting locked houses near railway stations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. They typically operate at night, wearing masks, gloves, and socks to conceal their identity and using iron tools to force open doors and gain entry into houses.
Police inquiries further revealed that several criminal cases have already been registered against the accused in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The investigation also established their involvement in a theft case reported in the Surathkal Police Station limits during September 2025.
Police stated that two more accused are absconding in connection with the case and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them. The successful detection of the case and recovery of the stolen property highlight the alertness and dedicated investigative work of the Manipal Police team.
Our Citizen Reporter – Karnataka
Wilson D’Souza
