In a major breakthrough, the Baiyappanahalli Police have arrested a habitual house burglar and recovered gold ornaments and other valuables worth ₹1.84 crore, dealing a significant blow to a series of residential thefts reported in the city.
The accused has been identified as Abbigere Raja (43), a resident of Abbigere. Senior police officials said he had been involved in house burglary cases for the past five years, but this was the first time he had been arrested. Following his arrest, police were able to detect four house theft cases, including three within the limits of the Baiyappanahalli police station and one in Ramamurthy Nagar.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh disclosed the details at a press conference, stating that the arrest led to the recovery of 1 kg and 232 grams of gold ornaments, along with a two-wheeler and a mobile phone. The total value of the seized property was estimated at ₹1.84 crore.
The breakthrough came during the investigation of a house burglary reported on April 18, 2025. The accused had allegedly broken into the house of Uday Kumar, a resident of NGEF Layout in Sadananda Nagar, Baiyappanahalli, while the family was away in Kundapur. Based on the complaint, Baiyappanahalli Police Inspector Shivakumar P and his team carried out a detailed investigation, which eventually led to Raja’s arrest from Abbigere on January 4.
After being produced before a court, the accused was taken into 28 days of police custody. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to committing multiple house thefts across different parts of Bengaluru. Police said he admitted to selling the stolen gold ornaments at jewellery shops in Kammanahalli, Abbigere, and Hennur, as well as to individuals in Abbigere, Jalahalli, and even Goa.
Investigators revealed that Raja was previously working as a travel agent in Davanagere. However, after suffering financial losses during the Covid-19 period, he allegedly turned to house burglaries as a source of income. To avoid identification, he would wear a mask while committing the crimes, targeting houses when families were away.
Police officials said further investigation is underway to trace additional theft cases linked to the accused and to recover any remaining stolen property.