Pune: A suspected thief, who was standing suspiciously with a motorcycle, was caught by the Crime Branch Unit VI in the Wagholi area. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the motorcycle was stolen, and further searches led to the recovery of 87 grams of gold jewelry looted in house burglaries. The arrest has helped solve five house break-in cases and two vehicle theft cases in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The accused, identified as Rahul Dagadu Shinde (32, resident of Pirangut), was found with stolen property worth ₹7,40,322, including gold jewelry worth ₹6,40,322. The police have linked him to several burglaries and vehicle thefts in the region.

During a routine patrolling operation in Wagholi, Constable Nitin Mundhe received a tip-off about a notorious house burglar near D-Mart on Lohegaon-Wagholi Road. Acting swiftly, a police team reached the location and found Rahul Shinde with a suspicious motorcycle.

When questioned about the vehicle, he failed to provide proper answers, leading the police to conduct a search, which revealed gold jewelry hidden with him. Upon intense interrogation, he confessed to stealing the motorcycle and jewelry.

Investigations revealed that the gold ornaments were stolen during burglaries in Lonikand and Loni Kalbhor. Following this arrest, the police solved seven cases, including:

• Three house burglary cases registered at Lonikand Police Station

• Two house burglary cases registered at Loni Kalbhor Police Station

• Two vehicle theft cases registered at Ravet and Cantonment Police Stations

Rahul Dagadu Shinde already has multiple criminal cases registered against him in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for theft, house burglaries, and vehicle thefts.

The successful operation was carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajendra Mulik, and Police Inspector Wahid Pathan.