A court in Thane has handed down a three-year prison sentence to a 30-year-old labourer for breaking into a family's home at night and stealing cash and jewellery valued at Rs 32,000 while they were asleep.
Details of the Night Burglary
The incident occurred in June of last year. The complainant was sleeping in his second-floor flat with his wife, Kadambari, and his mother. At approximately 4:30 am, Kadambari discovered her mobile phone was missing and noticed household items were strewn about the bedroom. A subsequent check revealed that a gold earring worth Rs 26,000 and cash amounting to Rs 6,000 had also been taken. The sliding window of the bedroom gallery was found open, indicating the point of entry.
Investigation and Arrest
The accused, identified as Amit Pradip Jagtap, a resident of Siddharth Nagar in Kopri, managed to evade capture for over a month. His run ended on August 3 when he was arrested from the custody of Rabale police station in connection with a different offence. During interrogation by the police, Jagtap confessed to the house theft. He subsequently led the officers to his residence, where the stolen cash was recovered from beneath a bed. Jagtap admitted to having sold the stolen mobile phone and the jewellery.
Court Verdict and Sentence
The Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Thane recently delivered its verdict in the case. Amit Pradip Jagtap was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment. In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1,000. The court order stated that failure to pay this fine would result in an additional three months of simple imprisonment. The sentence underscores the legal consequences of such property crimes in Thane.
