Patna Police Crack Down on Major Theft Ring, Arrest Four Suspects in High-Value Heist
In a significant breakthrough, Patna police have apprehended four individuals in connection with a major theft at the residence of a retired Army colonel in PC Colony, under the Kankarbagh police station area. The incident, which occurred on March 6, involved the theft of valuables estimated to be worth over Rs1 crore, sending shockwaves through the community.
Arrests and Identifications Unveiled
City SP (East) Parichay Kumar announced on Thursday that the arrested men have been identified as Sonu Kumar, Guddu Kumar, Aditya Kumar—a jeweller—and Jitu Sahni. Kumar emphasized that these arrests are not isolated, linking them to three other theft cases registered in the same area, indicating a pattern of criminal activity.
Police have successfully recovered a substantial cache of stolen articles from the accused. This includes a gold brick weighing 234.9 grams and gold jewellery weighing 40.3 grams, collectively valued at approximately Rs40 lakh. Additionally, items such as silver coins, a silver plate, a gold spoon, a mangalsutra, earrings, luxury watches, and four mobile phones were seized.
Gang Operations and Investigation Details
According to SP Kumar, the gang fled Patna after committing the thefts and traveled to other states, including Odisha, in an attempt to evade capture. They returned to Patna a few days ago to attend a celebration, where police subsequently arrested them from their residences. Further raids are currently underway based on leads provided by the nabbed individuals, with the role of 10 to 12 more persons under active investigation.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to delve deeper into the case. Led by Sadar SDPO Abhinav, the team includes Kankarbagh SHO Abhay Kumar, Jakkanpur SHO Rituraj Kumar Singh, and other officers from the Sadar division. This coordinated effort aims to uncover the full extent of the gang's operations.
Background of the Targeted Property
The retired Colonel, who lives with his children in Bengaluru, owns the PC Colony property. His flat, along with those of his two tenants, was targeted while the house was locked. The tenants—Avinash and Amit Kumar, both employed at Mahavir Arogya Sansthan—were away in their native villages at the time of the theft.
Avinash, a resident of Hisua in Nawada district, discovered the theft upon returning home, finding his belongings scattered. From his flat alone, thieves allegedly stole jewellery worth around Rs70 lakh and Rs14 lakh in cash, highlighting the scale of the heist.
Broader Criminal Activities and Ongoing Efforts
SP Kumar revealed that the gang had targeted four to five houses in the Kankarbagh area during March. Guddu conducted reconnaissance, while Sonu and Jitu, along with another associate, carried out the thefts. The accused have multiple cases registered against them at different police stations in Patna, underscoring their criminal history. Jeweller Aditya played a key role by melting the stolen jewellery and selling the gold to bullion traders.
Police are intensifying efforts to trace the remaining suspects and recover more stolen property, with continuous raids being conducted. This case underscores the challenges of urban crime and the proactive measures being taken by law enforcement to ensure justice and security in Patna.
