Navi Mumbai: The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Raigad police has arrested a 23-year-old contract worker for committing multiple house break-in thefts over the past three years in villages under the Nagothane police station. The accused confessed to committing the crimes to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchase expensive mobile phones and a high-end car, and repay debts incurred from heavy losses in online Rummy.
Arrest and Detection of Cases
With the arrest, police have solved five house break-in theft cases registered between 2024 and 2026 at Nagothane police station. Milind Khopade, senior inspector of LCB, identified the accused as Aditya Kuthe, a resident of Mundhani village in Roha taluka, Raigad.
Pattern of Thefts
For three years, frequent night-time house break-ins occurred in Shihu, Bense, Mundhani, and Zothirpada villages. The burglar targeted homes when villagers attended functions in their own or neighboring villages. To curb these incidents, residents installed CCTV cameras on streets, which halted thefts for several months.
Khopade stated, "After three to four months of CCTV installation, Kuthe broke into a house in a neighboring village without CCTV surveillance. On February 7, an FIR was registered at Nagothane police station. Subsequently, Raigad SP Anchal Dalal directed the LCB to detect the repeated house break-ins. Constables Amol Hambir and Ishwar Lambote of LCB zeroed in on Kuthe using technical analysis and informer inputs."
Motive and Lifestyle
Police revealed Kuthe had a penchant for online rummy, betting large sums and accumulating significant debt. He used expensive mobile phones and a high-end car. Bank account details showed his income did not match his lavish lifestyle. Kuthe was detained for inquiry on April 18 and confessed to the thefts. His custody was handed over to Nagothane police, who sought police custody remand for recovery of stolen valuables in the five cases.
