Gang involved in 68 burglaries arrested

VADODARA: A gang that used to burgle temples and houses was arrested by the rural police on Thursday. Six persons involved in 68 burglaries in four districts of central Gujarat were arrested by local crime branch (LCB), rural.
They were arrested after the LCB sleuths received a tip-off about their plan to gather near Poicha Chokdi near Bhadarva on Thursday morning.The gang has allegedly carried 36 burglaries in Vadodara district. The accused admitted of committing burglaries in temples and residences in Padra, Karjan, Shinor, Savli, Bhadarva, and Desar between 2013 and 2014. The arrested persons have been identified as Mela Chunara, Ishwar Chunara, Arvind Chunara, Sanjay Chunara, Paresh Kaala, and Kaala Chunara.
Mela and Ishwar are residents of Borsad, Paresh and Sanjay were from Sankarda, Arvind belonged to Padra, while Kaala Chunara was a resident of Kotambi. The accused persons, who belong to the same family, were known for stealing gold and silver jewelries and cash.
"During the day, the burglars worked as wedding band members to conduct recce in different areas. They broke into houses after breaking the grill and locks between 2 am and 3.30 am," said LCB, police inspector, A M Sayed. During interrogation, Paresh Kaala revealed that his mother Madhu, a resident of Sankarda, worked as an informant for Anand police, and also helped them in selling the stolen gold and silver ornaments to local jewelers in Padra and Borsad.
Twenty-two-year-old Sanjay Chunara, who began burglary at the age of 12 years, was arrested for the first time. While Ishwar Chunara, Arvind Chunara, and Kaala Chunara were arrested for stealing 17 kilograms of gold and silver ornaments, along with cash amounting to Rs 7.9 lakh from Naaykaka temple in Shinor taluka last year. Apart from Vadodara, the accused have also committed burglaries in Anand, Kheda, and Bharuch.