A 28-year-old gardener, who appeared unassuming and blended seamlessly into South Delhi's upscale residential colonies, allegedly led a covert double life as a serial housebreaker. He quietly conducted recces of locked homes before striking with housebreaking tools.
The Crime Trail
His alleged crime trail came to light after a burglary on May 20 at the residence of a lawyer couple in Pamposh Enclave in Greater Kailash-I. Gold, diamond and silver jewellery worth nearly Rs 1 crore, along with Rs 6.5 lakh in cash, were stolen. A case was registered under sections 305 (theft in a dwelling house) and 331 (house trespass) of the BNS.
Arrest and Confession
Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid on Friday and arrested the accused, identified as Sanwara Gujjar, a native of Rajasthan who was residing in Madanpur Khadar in southeast Delhi. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime and revealed his modus operandi. He would roam through affluent neighbourhoods during the day posing as a worker, identify houses that appeared locked or unattended, and later return to break in and steal valuables. After committing the thefts, he would change hideouts and allegedly dispose of the stolen jewellery through local contacts to evade arrest.
Previous Involvement
Investigators further found that Sanwara was previously involved in a similar theft case in 2020, registered at the New Friends Colony police station. He had allegedly been absconding in that case, and a non-bailable warrant had also been issued against him. Police are also probing his involvement in several other similar burglaries.
Recovered Items
Police have recovered a diamond watch worth Rs 12 lakh, another luxury watch valued at Rs 3 lakh, a diamond solitaire ring, a pair of high-end earrings, a moon bracelet and around Rs 3.6 lakh in cash from the accused's possession.
