Anantapur police bust inter-State gang of scrap collectors-turned-burglars
Anantapur police arrested six members of an inter-State gang involved in 13 thefts across Andhra Pradesh, recovering valuables worth ₹60 lakh.
The Anantapur police have arrested six members of an inter-State gang accused of committing 13 thefts across Andhra Pradesh. The arrests were made on Saturday, and authorities recovered valuables estimated at around ₹60 lakh from the accused.
Superintendent of Police P. Jagadish told the media that the seized items include 393 grams of gold jewellery, 100 grams of silver ornaments, and ₹1.49 lakh in cash.
The gang operated with two distinct methods. One of the accused, Chittemma, a habitual offender, allegedly targeted women and elderly passengers in crowded places such as buses, autorickshaws, and bus stations. The gang would pose as passengers, deliberately jostle victims to distract them, and then steal handbags containing cash and jewellery.
The other five members allegedly posed as scrap collectors. Their modus operandi involved moving through residential areas, identifying locked houses, breaking in, and stealing valuables.
The arrests helped the police crack 13 cases, including 11 registered at the Gooty police station and one each at Anantapur III Town and Uravakonda. The SP added that the gang's possible involvement in similar crimes in neighbouring States would also be investigated.
Additional SP M. Nagabhushanam and Deputy SP (Guntakal) A. Srinivas were also present during the announcement.