
Bengaluru techies' homes looted by neighbour: How a 26-year-old pulled off a string of high-value theft
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In a gated community filled with software professionals and startup founders, few imagined a thief could be living just next door. But residents of GM Infinity in Electronics City Phase 2 were in for a shock when police arrested a 26-year-old man for a series of high-value thefts carried out right under their noses, according to TOI.The accused, Nitesh Subbu—an unemployed graduate from West Bengal—had been living with his sister in the same Thirupalya apartment complex. Police recovered stolen valuables including 641 grams of gold and 56 grams of silver ornaments, together worth approximately Rs 60.4 lakh, said the TOI report.Subbu, who once worked as an assistant at a real estate firm, is believed to have targeted three locked flats within the premises.On the night of July 3, the accused broke into the home of 62-year-old professor Suresh Iyer, who is currently based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The house had been locked for months, with Iyer's wife occasionally visiting Bengaluru. She last locked the house on June 21 before returning to Dehradun. However, on June 4, she received a call from a neighbour who informed her that the front door of their second-floor apartment had been broken open. She immediately alerted her nephew, who then filed a complaint with Hebbagodi police on June 5.Unbeknownst to the residents, Subbu's sister lived in the block adjacent to Iyer's flat. He forcibly opened the main door, the sliding wardrobe, and a bedroom cupboard, stealing gold and diamond jewellery.Investigating officers, led by Inspector Somashekar G, reviewed CCTV footage and spotted a man in a T-shirt and shorts loitering and appearing to search around various flats. When Subbu was detained for questioning on Monday, he confessed to the crime.Subbu had a calculated method for selecting his targets. He would first ring the doorbell of the flat he intended to break into. If someone answered, he'd make up an excuse and walk away. But if there was no response, he'd start looking for a hidden key—checking common spots like shoe racks or flowerpots. Failing to find one, he would then force open the door using an iron rod.On the night of June 22, Subbu pulled off similar thefts in two other flats. Police later recovered stolen valuables that included 621 grams of gold, 15.8 grams of diamonds, 4.3 grams of platinum, 56 grams of silver, and Rs 28,000 in cash.

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