New Year trip turns nightmare as Rs 45 lakh stolen from Lokhandwala bungalow

A New Year holiday in Goa turned into a nightmare for a Lokhandwalabased film and television production family after their bungalow was burgled and valuables worth nearly Rs 45 lakh were stolen The Oshiwara Police have arrested a habitual burglar in connection with the highvalue theft which occurred while the family was away celebrating New Yearrsquos EveHabitual burglar arrested 90 per cent of stolen property recoveredThe accused has been identified as Manoj Rathod 40 He was arrested from Virar East and police have recovered nearly 90 per cent of the stolen propertyAccording to police the burglary took place at a bungalow located behind Magnum Tower on 2nd Cross Road in Lokhandwala The house belongs to a 53yearold film and television producer who lives there with his wife children and 82yearold mother along with domestic staffElderly mother and relative were at home during breakinAt the time of the incident the family members were away in Goa leaving the elderly mother and a relative of her daughterinlaw at homePolice said the burglar entered the bungalow between 11 pm on December 29 and 730 am on December 30 by forcing open a bathroom window on the second floor The intruder allegedly moved silently through the house while the occupants were asleepNoises heard at night but ignored by elderly womanAt around 240 am the elderly woman woke up to use the washroom and noticed faint noises but ignored them She later observed that a bathroom window was not closing properly and assumed it had been opened by domestic staffldquoIt was only in the morning that the crime came to light One of the maids noticed that a window handle in the library was broken and several rooms including the bedrooms of family members and grandchildren were found ransackedrdquo said a police officerFurther checks revealed that a safe locker kept inside a cupboard had been completely removedWhat the burglar stole jewellery silverware passportsA detailed inventory later confirmed that the burglar had stolenDiamond ruby and emerald earrings rings and braceletsA Cartier diamond and emerald braceletGold bangles bracelets and ornaments belonging to the grandmotherSilver plates spoons utensils frames and household silverwareForeign currencyThree passports and signed blank stamp papersCash belonging to a relative and a domestic helpThe total value of the stolen property has been estimated at Rs 45 lakhFIR registered police launch technical and ground probeBased on the complaint filed by the elderly woman Oshiwara Police registered an FIR and launched an intensive investigation under the guidance of DCP Zone 9 Dixit Gedam and Senior Inspector Sanjay ChauhanTechnical surveillance CCTV footage and human intelligence led the police to Rathod who was arrested from Virar a few days laterAccused linked to multiple burglary cases across MumbaiDuring interrogation police found that Rathod is a notorious and habitual offender with more than a dozen burglary cases registered against him across Mumbai and adjoining areasldquoFor nearly five years the accused had stayed away from criminal activity and had completely cut off contact with his former associates When police tried tracing him through old informers several believed he might have diedrdquo said an officerPassports recovered after being dumped nearbyPolice sources said that after stealing passports and documents the accused discarded them a short distance from the bungalowFollowing Rathodrsquos arrest police have recovered over 90 per cent of the stolen property Further investigation is ongoing and the accused is currently in police custody