Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 31: In a breakthrough, Bajpe police have arrested an interstate thief from Tamil Nadu in connection with a temple burglary in which cash from donation boxes was stolen after breaking open the shrine’s door.

The accused has been identified as Shabik Ahmed Sheikh Abdul Khader (25), a resident of Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu.

The theft was reported on March 3 at the Shri Ramanjaneya Temple in Kenjaru village under the jurisdiction of Bajpe police station. The accused allegedly broke open the temple door, gained entry, and decamped with around Rs 25,000 kept in three donation boxes. A case had been registered following the incident.

Treating the matter with seriousness, police formed a special team to trace the accused. Acting on specific information, the team carried out a raid on Tuesday, March 31 and succeeded in apprehending him. During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to the Kenjaru temple theft, and the stolen donation box has been recovered from his possession.

Further probe revealed that the accused was also involved in theft cases reported in Udupi and Panambur, indicating a pattern of interstate criminal activity.

According to police, the accused had a modus operandi of travelling from Tamil Nadu by train, committing thefts, and returning swiftly to his home state to evade arrest.

The operation was led by Bajpe police inspector Balakrishna, with the support of crime staff members Noothan, Rajesh, and Prakash. The accused has been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.