Bengaluru’s City Market police have apprehended a 38-year-old burglar, Manjunath, also known as Parivala Manja, who allegedly used pigeons to identify locked houses before robbing them. Manjunath, a resident of Hosur and originally from Nagarathpet, Bengaluru, is believed to be behind around 50 house burglaries across the city.
In a recent breakthrough, the police recovered 475 grams of gold, valued at Rs30 lakh, and a scooter from his possession. His distinctive technique for identifying targets involved using one or more pigeons to scout buildings before striking.
Manjunath specifically targeted multi-storey buildings that lacked security guards. He would release pigeons in the area, and the birds would land on buildings. This unusual method would often go unnoticed, giving him the opportunity to assess which apartments were locked.
Once he identified a locked house, he would climb the stairs of the building and, if confronted by anyone, claim that he was trying to catch the pigeons. If the coast was clear and he found a house with a locked door, he would break in using an iron rod. He would then ransack the house, breaking open cupboards or almirahs, and steal gold ornaments and cash.
According to the police, Manjunath operated alone and usually struck during the day. His technique involved using the same iron rod to break the front doors and then ransack the house. After committing the theft, he would dispose of the stolen items in Hosur, a town near Bengaluru.
Despite being previously arrested in the city for similar crimes, Manjunath continued his burglary spree each time he was released on bail. Authorities now say they have solved at least four burglary cases registered at City Market and Ulsoor Gate police stations with his arrest.