Notorious Burglar Arrested After Over 100 Break-ins and Thefts
Nagpur, India: The city police have arrested the notorious burglar Naresh Mahilange, who has been involved in over 100 house break-ins. This arrest comes just days after a high-profile burglary at a businessman’s residence in Suryanagar, where valuables worth Rs 24.53 lakh were stolen, causing a stir in the city.
The Crime Branch’s anti-burglary squad carried out a thorough investigation, analyzing footage from approximately 350 CCTV cameras, which ultimately led to the capture of Mahilange. His questioning has uncovered 18 burglary cases that were previously unnoticed.
High-Profile Burglary in Suryanagar
On February 22, Anil Ramchandra Ochal (52), a resident of Suryanagar, went with his family to a birthday celebration at Umred Road. When they returned home around 1 AM, they discovered that an unknown thief had broken into their house. The thief entered by sliding open a ground-floor window, then broke into a wooden cupboard on the second floor, stealing gold, diamonds, and platinum jewelry valued at Rs 24.53 lakh.
After discovering the burglary, Ochal promptly informed the Kalamna police station. A thorough review of the CCTV footage from the house revealed that the suspect was the notorious Naresh Mahilange. Shockingly, Mahilange was still inside the house when the Ochal family returned. As he attempted to flee, their pet dog barked at him, and he managed to escape by jumping onto a neighboring terrace.
The Manhunt and Arrest
After an examination of CCTV footage from multiple locations across the city, the police were able to track Mahilange’s movements. They discovered that he often took shelter in a cement pipe near a village on the outskirts of Nagpur, where he engaged in substance abuse. Acting on this lead, the police swiftly moved in and apprehended him. He has since been handed over to Kalamna police station for further investigation.
A Criminal History of Theft and Burglaries
During his interrogation, Mahilange confessed to committing burglaries and vehicle thefts in various areas, including Nandanvan, Lakadganj, Ganeshpeth, Kotwali, Wathoda, Koradi, Yashodharanagar, Mauda, and Khaparkheda in Maharashtra, as well as Lodhikheda in Madhya Pradesh. He also admitted to passing on stolen goods to his accomplices. The police have seized a car with a Madhya Pradesh registration, along with stolen goods worth Rs 8.20 lakh.
Mahilange has a history of escaping law enforcement and has been involved in numerous crimes. Previously, he even tried to commit suicide inside a police lock-up to avoid interrogation.
Police Team Behind the Arrest
The breakthrough was achieved by a dedicated police team, led by Inspector Amol Deshmukh, along with dedicated officers Nitin Chulapar, Rajesh Deshmukh, Prashant Gabhane, Praveen Rode, Ravi Ahir, Nilesh Shripatre, Sudhir Pawar, Ashish Wankhede, Pankaj Hedau, Manoj Tekam, Pritam Yadav, Swapnil Khodke, Hansraj Thakur, Zhingre, Parag Dhok, Ananta Kshirsagar, Dheeraj Panchpabhave, and Shekhar Raghote.
The police are continuing to investigate the extent of Mahilange’s criminal activities and are working to recover more stolen property. His arrest marks a significant step in reducing organized burglaries in the area.
