Shivamogga: The Shivamogga police have arrested a super thief, who has committed 99 thefts and stolen valuables worth over Rs 1.3 crore in the last three years in Shivamogga and Davangere districts.
The accused, identified as Manjappa alias Halu Manja, was picked up by a police special team during a routine check on December. During the interrogation, he confessed to a series of burglaries since 2012. Gold ornaments weighing 4.133 kg worth Rs 1.3 crore and silver articles weighing 4 kg worth Rs 1.61 lakh were recovered from Manjappa, SP Ravi D. Channannavar said on Monday.
The police are on the lookout for more accused in these theft cases. On October 31, Manjappa had drilled a hole on terrace of Padma Jewellers on Durgigudi Main Road and made away with ornaments worth Rs 2.48 lakh. The police special team had been formed to solve the jewellery shop case and Manjappa’s arrest led to solving nearly a hundred cases, the SP said.
‘Halu’ Manja or ‘Milk’ Manja, who hails from Hosahalli in Channagiri taluk of Davangere district, got his name as he started off as a milk vendor before taking to crime. Since 2012, he had looted 83 houses, 13 shops and three banks.
A team with 21 policemen was led by Additional Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram L. Arasiddi and CPI K.T. Gururaj. The SP announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh to the team.
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