Four held,booty worth Rs 35 lakh recovered

The suspects have been identified as Shivaji Nana Bhosale (27),Ankush Waman Pawar (26),Aba Radhakisan Sarode (26) and a 17-year-old boy,all believed to be residents of Dais Plot slum in Gultekdi.

Police interrogation of the suspects revealed that they had committed at least 23 house break-ins in different parts of Pune city in the past two years.

“We recovered booty worth Rs 35 lakh,including 1,318 gm gold and 1.52 kg silver the suspects must have stolen during their break-ins. We have also seized a two-wheeler that they must have used for the crime. We have also arrested a jeweller Prakash Mahadev Parkhe (65) from Ahmednagar,who purchased the stolen gold and silver ornaments from the suspects,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime) Rajendra Bhamre said,addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

Inspector Govekar said the suspects have admitted to committing three house break-ins in 2011,10 in 2012 and eight in 2013 so far. The suspects committed 10 house break-ins within the jurisdiction of Vishrambag police station. Besides,they also broke into houses in Swargate,Khadak,Bibvewadi,Faraskhana and Dattawadi police station areas.

“After identifying the buildings for committing the break-ins,the suspects would reach the location with a hand cart and pose as scrap vendors. Two of the suspects would enter the building and break into flats,they knew were not occupied at the time of committing the crime. The other two stayed back with the hand cart to keep watch and alert their aides over the cell phone if they saw anyone go into the building,” said inspector Govekar.

Suspect Aba Sarode is a history-sheeter.

He was earlier arrested in a chain-snatching case at Kothrud police station in 2009.