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Hyderabad techie arrested for 26 break-ins to fund lavish lifestyle that salary couldn’t afford

Officials say he would drive a BMW while conducting a recce of homes where the owners were away.

Officials said he would allegedly drive the BMW while conducting a recce of homes where the owners were away. (Credits: AI-generated)Officials said he would allegedly drive the BMW while conducting a recce of homes where the owners were away. (Photo/ AI-generated)

A software engineer working in a Hyderabad firm has been arrested in Visakhapatnam for his alleged involvement in at least 26 house burglaries. Officials from the Gajuwaka police station alleged that the 27-year-old craved a lavish lifestyle, which he could not afford on his salary.

“He broke into locked houses,” said Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankabrata Bagchi. “He purchased a BMW car using the stolen proceeds, including cash, gold and silver ornaments.”

hyderabad techie lavish lifestyle. Common burglary items were cash, gold and silver ornaments. (Express Photo)

Twenty-six cases of burglary have been registered against him across Visakhapatnam, involving the theft of over 1 kg of gold, 6 kg of silver and Rs 40,500 in cash. Following his arrest, the police recovered 699 grams of gold ornaments, 3.8 kg of silver ornaments and the luxury car. Police also believe the accused, a postgraduate, used the proceeds to fund some trips abroad.

Officials said he would allegedly drive the BMW while conducting a recce of homes where the owners were away. He used simple tools like hammers, cutters and screwdrivers to break in and wore a mask and a cap to disguise himself, police said. He allegedly travelled long distances to choose the houses, never returning to the same locality within a short period, police said.

Police found out that he had been arrested previously, too, as a teenager for allegedly breaking into four houses. He was sent to a juvenile home for a few weeks. He also spent 14 months in jail for a spate of break-ins around his native place, Kakinada. “His involvement has been found in 62 break-ins so far,” an officer said.

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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