A 24-year-old man has been arrested by Avalahalli police in Bengaluru for stealing mobile phones and laptops worth more than ₹10 lakh from several PG accommodations within the Avalahalli and Hoskote police station limits. Police identified him as B. Shivaji, a native of Andhra Pradesh. He was found with 12 mobile phones and 7 laptops, investigators said.
The arrest follows several complaints about the theft of mobile phones and laptops from PG accommodations in the two police stations’ jurisdiction. Police said several residents had reported that valuable electronic devices had been stolen from their rooms. CCTV footage and other sources of information had been used to match the suspects.
Shivaji allegedly targeted PG premises during late-night hours or early morning when most residents were asleep, police said. Investigators believe he was looking for rooms where occupants had failed to secure their doors properly before going to sleep. That allowed him to enter the rooms without generating any immediate attention, they said.
The accused allegedly targeted mobile phones and laptops on tables or other easily reached places. Police said he would allegedly take the electronic devices and leave the premises within minutes. The pattern of the alleged thefts in different PG accommodations helped investigators compare complaints with CCTV footage in order to identify the suspect.
After many complaints from the victims, Avalahalli police started investigating CCTV recordings from the affected PG accommodations and surrounding areas. Investigators have subsequently collected and analyzed footage and other details related to the theft complaints. And that is when police were able to find and arrest the culprit.
Police had recovered 12 mobile phones (including some of the most expensive smartphones) and seven laptops during the investigation; according to sources, which were seized during the investigation. The total value of the recovered electronic devices is estimated to be more than ₹10 lakh in all. Investigation into the recovered devices will help investigators to connect the recovered devices with the complaints of PG residents.
The police action has also raised security issues in PG accommodations in Bengaluru, where so many students and working professionals live. Smartphones and laptops are amongst the most common and valuable personal belongings residents possess. The door of a room that is left open, particularly when sleeping, is more likely to be entered by intruders.
It’s a security risk that the PG residents are not prepared to leave their rooms locked in by the police at night and early in the morning, they said. Residents should also be very careful about their possessions and report any suspicious activity to the police, they added. CCTV cameras installed at PG entrances, corridors and surrounding areas can also be evidence when thefts take place.
The case is registered and further investigation is underway. Police will verify the ownership of the recovered mobile phones and laptops and the links to the complaints filed in Avalahalli and Hoskote. Investigators may also investigate the role played by the accused in other similar theft incidents in the area.
The arrest comes as police continue to investigate property-related crimes in Bengaluru’s rapidly growing residential areas. Since PG accommodations house many of the residents in such places, authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of security measures, such as locking doors and keeping valuable electronic devices secured.
For PG residents, the incident is a reminder that even a small lapse like leaving a door unlocked can create an opportunity for theft. Police have advised residents not to leave smartphones, laptops and other expensive belongings unattended and to immediately inform the police if they notice any suspicious person or activity around their accommodation.
The investigation is still in progress into the alleged thefts involving Shivaji. The recovered devices and CCTV footage will be part of the evidence that will be analyzed by investigators. The accused is in the process of due legal process and the allegations will be concluded by the judicial system.
