Pune: The Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have arrested a serial offender involved in stealing gold bangles from elderly women traveling on buses. The accused, identified as Krishna Ramesh Mane (41), a resident of Sarvodaya Colony, Mundhwa, was caught while attempting another crime at a bus stop on Katraj-Kondhwa Road.

On January 19, a 62-year-old woman was traveling on a bus from Katraj to Hadapsar when three thieves stole a 2.5 tola gold bangle from her wrist. Following her complaint, a case was registered at Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station.

A special police team, including constables Mitesh Chormole, Sagar Borge, and Abhinay Chaudhary, launched an investigation. Krishna Mane, a known criminal, was identified as the prime suspect, and he was later tracked down and arrested on February 14.

During interrogation, Mane confessed to another similar crime in the Katraj area, where he had stolen gold bangles from another elderly woman. The police have recovered a stolen gold Patli bangle from him. With this arrest, two theft cases have been successfully solved.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Smarthana Patil and Assistant Commissioner of Police Rahul Aware.

The investigation team included Senior Police Inspector Sawalaram Salgaonkar, Crime Inspector Rahul Kumar Khilare, Sub-Inspector Nilesh Mokashi, and constables Mitesh Chormole, Sagar Borge, Abhinay Chaudhary, Sachin Sarpale, Mahesh Baravkar, Chet Gore, Mangesh Pawar, Nilesh Khairmode, Sachin Gade, and Avadhut Jamdade.