In a significant crackdown, the Udupi Town police have successfully apprehended a habitual housebreaker and recovered stolen gold jewellery valued at over ₹65 lakh. The swift operation followed a burglary reported from a residence in the Badagubettu area.
The Arrest and Recovery
Acting on intelligence, a police team detained Sukesh Naik, a 37-year-old from Kukkekatte village, near Kinnimulky on Tuesday. Following interrogation, Naik confessed to the crime and disclosed the location of the stolen valuables. The police subsequently raided a house in Ajjarkad, where they recovered 548.3 grams of gold ornaments, with an estimated value of ₹65.7 lakh.
A History of Crime: The Repeat Offender
Investigations unveiled that Sukesh Naik is a serial offender with a long criminal record. Police records indicate that a total of 11 housebreaking cases are registered against him across the Udupi district. The breakdown of these cases is as follows:
- Five cases at Udupi Town police station, with convictions secured in four.
- Three cases at Hiriyadka police station, with one conviction.
- Two cases at Brahmavar police station.
- One case currently under trial in Manipal.
The Incident That Triggered the Manhunt
The chain of events began on November 30, when a 53-year-old woman discovered a theft at her Badagubettu home. As she opened the sliding door of her bedroom cupboard to wear jewellery before leaving for church, she found that 548.3 grams of gold ornaments and a mobile phone were missing. Based on her formal complaint, the Udupi Town police registered a case under Sections 331(3), 331(4), and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The successful operation was conducted under the guidance of DSP (Udupi Subdivision) DT Prabhu. It was led by Udupi Town police station inspector (in-charge) Mahesh Prasad P, with a special team formed under PSI Bharatesh Kankanawadi.
