Kadapa police bust organised crime and recover stolen property worth ₹53 lakh

Tirupati: Kadapa district police have apprehended 13 individuals involved in a series of theft cases and recovered stolen property worth ₹53.01 lakh.

Kadapa SP Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath said the seized property includes 19 motorcycles, 194 grams of gold ornaments, one kg of silver articles, two mobile phones and ₹2.79 lakh in cash

The arrests relate to three separate criminal modules operating in the region. One group, a 10-member gang specialising in motorcycle thefts, was involved in the theft of 19 bikes worth ₹18.15 lakh, along with silver articles and cash. Key accused include Sarakalapeta Naga Basha and Busupathi Kumar from Pulivendula and Vempalli areas. The total recovery from this gang alone exceeded ₹24 lakh, police said.

In another case, police arrested Chotu Kumar, a Bihar native, in connection with an interstate chain-snatching racket. His accomplice from Rajasthan remains absconding. The accused was involved in stealing 91 grams of gold ornaments worth ₹13.52 lakh.

Police also arrested two women, Sagabali Narayanamma and Sagabali Umadevi of Nandyal district, for shoplifting 103 grams of gold ornaments worth over ₹15 lakh from jewellery stores.

The SP praised the teams for their swift action and technical investigation. All the accused have been produced before the court and remanded. Further investigation is on to trace other accomplices.