Theft at Durga Temple: Thief Held, Gold Worth ₹25 Lakh Seized

Vijayawada: The Vijayawada City Crime Station (CCS) police of the NTR police commissionerate arrested an inter-district thief and recovered about 180 gm of gold jewellery worth nearly `25 lakh in connection with a theft near the Kanaka Durga temple.

The theft occurred when a handbag containing gold jewellery was stolen from a parked car at the Om Turning parking area while devotees were inside the temple for darshan.

Police commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu ordered a focused probe, which was supervised by DCP (crime) K. Tirumaleswara Reddy. Under the guidance of ADCP (crime) M. Raja Rao, special teams led by ACP Ch. Venkateshwarulu and CCS inspector M. Ram Kumar intensified surveillance in temple parking areas following a spate of similar incidents.

Using Command Control CCTV footage and call detail records, police tracked the suspect and detained him near the Tarapeta Church area on December 31. During interrogation, he confessed to the theft.

The accused was identified as Chinta Ganesh, 47, of Mogalamuru village in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. A former car driver who had worked in Qatar, he allegedly resorted to theft due to financial difficulties. He targeted cars parked near temples, police said.

The CP praised the police teams for their swift action and effective use of technology.