Crime Branch Nabs Two Serial Housebreakers; Gold, Diamonds, Cash and Tools Recovered
Nagpur: The Nagpur Crime Branch Unit 1 has solved a sensational house burglary in the Sadar area and arrested two habitual offenders, recovering stolen property worth ₹3.34 crore. Investigators said the prime accused financed a lavish lifestyle through repeated thefts, spending on premium gyms, air travel, branded items and luxury hotel stays.
The break-in occurred between 7:45 pm on January 19 and 3:00 am on January 20 at a residence in Shirke Layout, Raj Nagar, under Sadar Police Station limits. Complainant Baljinder Singh Inderjit Singh Nayar (56) had locked his home and travelled with family to Kalmeshwar for a function. During their absence, burglars gained entry by cutting the iron grill of a rear kitchen window.
From a locker in the bedroom of the complainant’s mother, the accused stole 247 tolas of gold ornaments, diamond jewellery sets, coins, necklaces and bracelets. Additionally, ₹65 lakh in cash belonging to the complainant’s brother, linked to a petrol pump business, was stolen from another bedroom. The total loss was initially pegged at ₹2.91 crore. A case was registered at Sadar Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Senior police officers, forensic experts and a dog squad examined the crime scene. Considering the magnitude of the theft, the Police Commissioner transferred the probe to Crime Branch Unit 1. Three special teams were formed, and technical analysis of CCTV routes, movement patterns and criminal records led investigators to identify Rajnikant Chanore, a known housebreaker, as the key suspect.
Chanore had rented a flat in Hudkeshwar but fled the city the day after the crime. Police teams tracked him across multiple cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Pune as he frequently changed locations. After three days of sustained surveillance, officers received intelligence that the suspects were in Bhosari, Pimpri-Chinchwad, where a trap was laid.
Rajnikant Keshav Chanore (25) and his associate Pratap Gopal Urkude (26), both natives of Bhandara district and residing in Hudkeshwar, were taken into custody. Searches led to the recovery of 1,228 grams of gold ornaments, 197 grams of diamond jewellery, silver ornaments, ₹32.97 lakh in cash, burglary tools, equipment used to melt gold, five mobile phones, an expensive wristwatch and the Activa scooter used in the offence. The total seizure is valued at ₹3,34,00,500.
Police said Chanore is a seasoned offender who conducts reconnaissance in upscale neighbourhoods and prefers rear entry points to commit burglaries. He allegedly used metallic moulds to melt stolen gold and erase its identity. Officials added that he habitually indulged in a luxury lifestyle, spending heavily on fitness clubs, air travel for vacations and stays at premium hotels after committing crimes.
Chanore has a long criminal record with nine housebreaking cases in Nagpur, nine in Bhandara, two in Chandrapur and two in Bhilai and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh — a total of 22 cases.
Both accused have been arrested and remanded to eight days of police custody. Further investigation is underway.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner of Police Naved Chandra Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Rahul Maknikar, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Narendra Hivare.
The Crime Branch Unit 1 team comprised Senior Police Inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar, Senior Police Inspector Rajabhau Jadhav, Sachin Bhonde, PSI Omprakash Kothe, API Vinod Deshmukh, Head Constables Nitin Vasanik, Hemant Lonare, Ravi Ahir, Sunit Gujar, Sharad Chambhare, Sushant Solanke, Manoj Tekam, Ritesh Tumdam, Ravindra Khedkar, Constables Kunal Gedam, Swapnil Khodke, Nitin Bopulkar, Mangesh Borkute and Azmat Sheikh. Assistance was provided by Head Constables Rajesh Mote and Mukesh Kanhake, Constable Rajesh Dhopte of Hudkeshwar Police Station, and Cyber Cell personnel PSI Vivek Zhingre, Police Naik Ananta Kshirsagar, Parag Dhok, Shekhar Raghorte and Dhiraj Panchbhave.
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