This housebreaker in Pune police net used ‘in-house’ tools, and law, to commit 200 thefts - Hindustan Times
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This housebreaker in Pune police net used ‘in-house’ tools, and law, to commit 200 thefts

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByShalaka Shinde
Sep 27, 2017 11:49 PM IST

Police say Ravi Gopal Shetty used to strike alone and led an expensive lifestyle.

The city police on Sunday arrested a housebreaker involved in more than 200 burglaries in Pune and Mumbai area. Armed with ‘home-made’ innovative equipment used for theft — an iron cutter, a tool used to break iron locks, a hammer and a hacksaw blade — that was recovered from his possession, Ravi Gopal Shetty, 59, was arrested from Lohegaon area based on information from a local informer, said Deepak Sakore, deputy commissioner of police, zone 4.

The ‘home-made’ innovative equipment used for theft — an iron cutter, a tool used to break iron locks, a hammer and a hacksaw blade — was recovered from Ravi Gopal Shetty by the Pune police.(HT PHOTO)
The ‘home-made’ innovative equipment used for theft — an iron cutter, a tool used to break iron locks, a hammer and a hacksaw blade — was recovered from Ravi Gopal Shetty by the Pune police.(HT PHOTO)

The suspect was arrested while he was spotted riding a moped in a suspicious manner and refused to answer the patrol policemen’s questions. He was later sent to police custody till Thursday by a local court. 

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Shetty has been booked in over 200 cases of robbery and breaking and entering, 20 of which were uncovered by the police after this arrest. He has served seven years in jail between 2007 and 2014 for 112 counts of robberies in Pune and three years for 80 counts of robbery in Mumbai, according to DCP Sakore.

Active for over 25 years, Shetty not only designed his own weapons to break into houses, but also recced areas before finalising a place to break into, according to senior police inspector Sanjay Naik Patil of Vimantal police station. Hailing from Karnataka, Shetty maintained a residence in Panvel. However, when he was arrested, he had an outstanding bill of over Rs 1.5 lakh at a local lodge. “He has a slightly expensive lifestyle,” according to DCP Sakore. 

The police recovered 595 grams of gold jewellery, eight mobile phones, Activa moped and the tools used to break into houses from the suspect The collective recovery was worth Rs 18,00,000, DCP Sakore said. The 20 incidents of robbery were registered in various police stations across the city, including Vimantal, Hadapsar, Dighi, Khadki, Dehuroad, Bharti Vidyapeeth, Yerawada, Chandannagar, and Lonikand under rural police jurisdiction.

The thief used to steal gold and cash, melts the gold and sells it to local traders. However, every time he is caught, he represents himself in the court of law, accepts the charges and pleas guilty, the police said, adding that every time he returns to crime after serving his jail term.

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