Pune: Inter-State Burglar Arrested After Multi-House Heist in Bhor; Police Recovered Stolen Valuables Worth Rs 26.35 Lakh (Video)
Pune : A series of burglaries in Bhor city on January 14 shocked residents after valuables worth Rs 26.35 lakh, including Rs 9 lakh in cash, 18 tolas of gold, and 2.7 kg of silver, were stolen from four adjacent houses. Swift police action led to the arrest of an interstate burglar involved in the crime.
The accused, identified as Lakhan Ashok Kulkarni, alias Sachin Raju Mane (31), a resident of Mangalwedha in Solapur district, has a notorious history of burglaries across Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. With over 50 cases registered against him. Mane previously served a seven-year prison term for theft in Karnataka.
In this case, Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Deshmukh provided details of the investigation. According to the information, Madhav Damodar Purohit, a 64-year-old retired Forest Department official and resident of Shripati Nagar, Bhor, was among the victims. Purohit had stored 2.5 kg of silver to craft deity idols, along with family jewellery. During his two-day trip to Pune, burglars stole Rs 2 lakh in cash, 14 tolas of gold, and silver items worth Rs 15.66 lakh from his house. Three neighbouring houses also reported similar thefts.
Following the complaint, SP Deshmukh directed the Crime Investigation Branch to form a special team. Investigators scrutinised CCTV footage from roads around the area and identified a suspicious individual roaming Shripati Nagar six to seven hours before the thefts. The suspect was later confirmed to be Mane, a seasoned criminal on record.
A police team was then dispatched to Mangalwedha to track him down. On January 24, intelligence revealed that Mane was travelling to Pune from Shirwal. The police intercepted him near the Sasewadi area on the Pune-Satara road after a dramatic chase.
The arrest led to the recovery of stolen goods worth Rs 16.58 lakh, including eight and a half tolas of gold ornaments, 2 kg of silver jewellery, and cash. Mane is now in custody as investigations continue.
This action was taken by the team of Local Crime Branch Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, Police Inspector Annasaheb Pawar of Bhor Police Station, Assistant Police Inspector Dattajirao Mohite, Police Amaldar Balasaheb Khadke, Amol Shedge, Mangesh Bhagat, Mahesh Bankar, Mangesh Thigale, Vijay Kanchan, Dheeraj Jadhav, Ajit Bhujbal, Kashinath Rajapure, Ketan Khande, and Atul More under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Biradar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Tanaji Barde.
