The burglar with a YouTube channel and a motivational message – stay away from crime

Police claim to have found gold ornaments weighing some 200 grams, cash of Rs 1 lakh, a two-wheeler and an iron rod – allegedly used for break-ins — in his possession.

“Though he is an expert burglar and has at least 10 theft cases pending against him, he gave motivational talks during his free time and earned good views,” Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutta Singh said.

According to the police, Singh was a “habitual day-time burglar” who specifically targeted locked and standalone homes during the day. It was on the back of a complaint from the couple that the arrest was made.

In her complaint, the woman, a bank employee, had claimed that the burglary had occurred between 9 am and 2:30 pm on August 14, when the couple was out.

When her husband, who owns a pharmacy, returned at 2:30 pm, he allegedly discovered the lock on the main door broken and the almirah in their bedroom broken into. He also allegedly found 300 grams in gold ornaments and Rs 5 lakh cash missing.

According to the police, on the day of the alleged incident, the suspect is believed to have carried a bag with an iron road to the area. After finding the house locked, he allegedly made it in and out in 10 minutes.

It was speaking to those jailed for similar offences that allegedly gave police their breakthrough. According to one officer familiar with the investigation, these conversations led police to find Singh, who had been arrested 10 times before and was out on bail at the time of the incident.

“We initiated an intensive investigation, deploying both human intelligence and technical support to solve the case,” an officer familiar with the investigation said.

According to sources, the suspect had mortgaged 82 grams of the stolen gold at a bank in Nayagarh — some 80 km from Bhubaneswar — for Rs 4.73 lakh. The remaining 100 grams of gold and cash were allegedly recovered from his possession.