Pune: An attempted burglary in the Balewadi area of Pune took an unexpected turn when the thief fell from the first floor of a residential society. The incident occurred early Thursday (December 12) morning in Aeon Society.

The burglar, identified as Bappa Sarkar (32), sustained injuries after falling from a height of approximately 15-20 feet while trying to flee. He was apprehended by residents and handed over to the police. Sarkar is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

According to the police, the complainant, a resident of the first floor in Aeon Society, was woken up around 4 a.m. on Thursday by sounds coming from the balcony. Sarkar had entered the society premises and climbed to the first-floor balcony using a pipe.

When the complainant noticed the intrusion, Sarkar panicked and attempted to escape by climbing down the same pipe. However, he lost his balance and fell onto the society premises, injuring himself.

The complainant immediately raised an alarm, waking other residents. With the help of the society’s security guard, Sarkar was apprehended and handed over to the Baner police. Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi and Police Sub-Inspector Chalale visited the site and are leading the investigation.

Over the past month, Pune has witnessed an increase in housebreaking incidents, particularly in suburban areas. Burglars often target unoccupied flats and flee with stolen valuables.

Measures like installing CCTV cameras, maintaining a record of visitors, and ensuring the deployment of trained security personnel are recommended to curb the rising trend of burglaries in residential areas.