Chhattisgarh, Rajnandgaon: In a major breakthrough, Police Outpost Chikhli and Cyber Cell Rajnandgaon have exposed a serial thief and a goldsmith involved in stolen gold and silver trade. The operation led to the resolution of 11 theft cases and the recovery of stolen items worth Rs.14 lakh.
The police arrested Raju Michael (48), a seasoned thief from Kerala, residing in Rajnandgaon and Santosh Soni alias Babu (42), a goldsmith who bought and melted stolen jewelry for resale.
The recovered stolen items include 156 grams of gold jewelry & bars worth Rs.10,50,000/-; 1 kg silver bars & ornaments worth Rs.1,80,000/-;Rs.1,50,000/- in cash,;Electronic goods & a scooty worth Rs.2,00,000/- and the total value is Rs.14,00,000/-.
Modus Operandi of a High-Tech Burglar
The accused, Raju Michael, had been committing thefts since 2022 and used a gas fire gun to burn doors and break into empty houses. He meticulously planned each heist, conducting daytime recce of locked houses and returning at night to execute the crime.
To evade detection:
He changed his shirt after each burglary.
He used a pre-hidden two-wheeler for escape.
He took long detours through various streets to mislead CCTV tracking.
High-Tech Investigation & Arrest
100+ CCTV cameras were analyzed over two days to trace the accused. The thief was tracked to Jeevan Colony, where he attempted to hide on the roof but was caught after an extensive search. Dog squads and fingerprint experts aided the investigation.
Under intense questioning, he confessed to learning burglary techniques from YouTube during the lockdown.
Goldsmith’s Role in Crime
Santosh Soni alias Babu admitted to buying stolen jewelry from Michael for a 50% share. He melted the stolen gold and silver into new ornaments for resale.
The police recovered burglary tools, include Gas fire gun, gas cylinder, spade, cutter, crowbar, hammer, screwdriver, spanner.
The case was cracked under the leadership of SP Mohit Garg, ASP Rahul Dev Sharma, and CSP Pushpendra Nayak.
The Police have urged citizens to:
Inform local police before leaving town.
Install CCTV cameras at home.
Seek neighbors’ help to watch over properties.
The arrests mark a significant crackdown on serial burglaries, ensuring safety and justice for victims.
