Pune Police have successfully apprehended a habitual thief who used a unique modus operandi of disguising himself as a Jain monk to steal gold ornaments from temples.

The accused, identified as Naresh Agarachand Jain (48), a resident of Girgaon, Mumbai, was arrested by Swargate Police following an extensive investigation.

The thefts came to light after a gold crown and chain went missing from a Jain temple located within a bungalow in Salisbury Park, Pune, on November 15.

The complainant, a local resident, reported the crime to Swargate Police. Surveillance footage from the area revealed the thief dressed in monk-like attire entering the temple and committing the crime.

Further investigations connected the accused to similar thefts at Jain temples in Chikhali (Pimpri), Ghatkopar (Mumbai), and Wai.

The accused also confessed to stealing valuables from 8–10 temples, with the stolen gold crown being sold to a jeweler in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar. Police have issued a notice to the jeweler involved.

The investigation involved reviewing over 700 CCTV footages from areas including Swargate, Maharshinagar, and Salisbury Park. Technical analysis and the efforts of the police team led to identifying Naresh Jain's location in Girgaon, Mumbai, where he was apprehended.

The operation was conducted under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Smarthana Patil and Assistant Commissioner Rahul Aware, with significant contributions from Senior Inspector Yuvraj Nandre, Sub-Inspector Santosh Tanavade, and other officers.

Gold ornaments worth ₹4.2 lakh, including a gold crown and chain, have been recovered from the accused.