Hubballi: Railway police recover jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh from thief

HUBBALLI: Often, women travellers remove their golden ornaments and keep them in their bag during train journey. They will either keep the bag under their head or hang it on nearby hooks, thus becoming soft targets for thieves.
The free run of one such thief has ended, thanks to Hubballi Government Railway police. By arresting Sunny Havija, 24, a resident of Mantur Road here, on Saturday evening, they have solved seven cases registered in their limits over the past two years.Jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh has been recovered from him. Government Railway police inspector J M Kalimirchi said that Sunny is a habitual offender, and the railway police had arrested him in past too.
Kalimirchi said that the accused used to operate on trains arriving or leaving the Hubballi station between 12 midnight and 4am and target only bags.
“During night journey, women often remove their valuables and keep them in a bag, and the accused used to target such bags. He was involved in many such cases. With this, we have solved seven cases. The accused has been sent in judicial custody,” the inspector said.
The inspector said thieves cannot steal gold ornaments if it is worn. “Those sitting near windows need to be alert. But by removing and keeping valuables in a purse or bag, women become targets — it is easy to lift a bag or purse,” he said.