After stealing Rs 80 lakh, burglar offers Rs 2 lakh at Tirupati temple

Mumbai: After committing a burglary to the tune of Rs 80 lakh, 40-year-old Rajesh Shetty went to Tirupati and donated Rs 2 lakh as penance. Shetty was arrested on Thursday for breaking into a flat in Ambaji Dham area in Mulund and stealing ornaments. Shetty has at least 25 cases of burglaries against him and was released eight months ago from prison.

“Shetty planned a trip to Tirumala as he was happy to have got lucky and found valuables to the tune of lakhs. He told us that he wanted to give some donation, thanking God and hence he went to Tirupati,” said a crime branch officer.  

Officials of the property cell of crime branch said that Shetty would pose as a plumber to enter housing societies unhindered.

“He would first select a building without a guard or a lift. He would then land there with plumbing equipment and while climbing the stairs would spot a locked flat. He would then break into the residence and flee with valuables,” said a crime branch officer.

On December 27 last year, Shetty landed in the flat of Subhash Jain where the ornaments had been kept. A relative of Jain who owns a jewellery shop was renovating it and hence the ornaments were kept at Jain’s residence.

Officials said Shetty was released from the prison only eight months back when he started planning his next crime. He has been handed over to the Mulund police where the theft case has been registered.