Eluru: Burglar held, over Rs 60 lakh in stolen items seized

Eluru: A burglar was arrested and valuables including 220 sovereigns of gold ornaments and a bike totally worth around Rs 60.50 lakh were seized by the police.

West Godavari SP M. Ravi Prakash told media persons here on Thursday that the accused, identified as Nimmala Venu Gopal, hailing from Yanama-durru village of Bhimavaram mandal, used to work as a construction labourer.

The labourer did not have his own house to live in but wanted to have one. For this, started resorting to burglary and make money in order to own a big house and to carry out a business whereby he could  lead a comfortable life.

The man had been stealing from houses since the year 2010. His modus operandi was to identify locked houses during the day and carry out reconnaissance and burgle it at night to lift valuables and cash. However, to avoid any doubt on him, he continued to work as a construction labourer even while gathering the loot.

According to the police, the man was involved in theft from at least seven houses that fell under Bhimavaram one town police station limits, in nine houses under Bhimavaram two town police station limits and also in one house under Bhimavaram Rural police station limits and lifted nearly two kgs of gold ornaments.

The police managed to recover 1,760 gms or 220 sovereigns. Out of the remaining 240 gms of gold ornaments, some of the gold was either sold or was mortgaged to a jeweller identified as Rajesh Kumar Jain at Narasapuram.

The police is yet to recover the gold that could not be recovered from the burglar.