Police arrest habitual offender for 10 lakh house theft at Merces

Panaji: Police arrested Anant alias Akshya Mhadeshwar, a native of Kudal, Maharashtra, for breaking into a house at Merces and stealing gold ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh. Police also found that he is a habitual offender involved in four other theft cases in Goa and Maharashtra.Pooja Rajendra Mangaonkar, a 56-year-old housewife from Perimbhat, Merces, complained to the police that on Aug 29, an unidentified person broke into her flat between 4pm and 2.15am and stole gold and silver ornaments.The stolen items includ a gold coin weighing 30g, a pair of earrings weighing 2g, a mangalsutra weighing 40g, and two pairs of bangles weighing 40g, among other ornaments, all worth approximately Rs 10 lakh.The Old Goa police station registered a crime, and PSI Saiesh Bhonsle and staff proceeded to the spot and conducted a panchanama. During the investigation, analysis of CCTV footage revealed a suspicious person moving around the area on a scooter. A team was formed to trace the accused, and during the search, the staff chased and apprehended the accused in Merces.Police said the accused confessed to the theft. A check on the Interoperable Criminal Justice System revealed that he has a history of similar cases in Maharashtra and Goa, indicating that he is a habitual offender.