The Mangaluru city police have successfully arrested Rohit Mathias, a resident of Belman in Karkala taluk, Udupi district, in connection with a gold theft that occurred in December 2021. Mathias had been on the run since the incident and was apprehended recently after a prolonged investigation.
According to the police, the victim, a woman from Castalino Colony, Kulashekara, had met with an accident on November 7, 2021, which led to her hospitalization at a private medical facility. During her stay in the hospital, Mathias, who was in a live-in relationship with her, took the opportunity to steal gold ornaments worth Rs7 lakh from her home in Kankanady. The theft took place in December 2021, while the victim was recuperating in the hospital.
The police have now arrested Mathias, who had been absconding for nearly two years. They had traced him to his native village in Udupi, where he was taken into custody. The stolen gold ornaments were not recovered immediately, and Mathias faces charges of theft and unlawful possession. The case has raised concerns about trust and security in live-in relationships, with authorities urging greater vigilance.
Mathias has been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to theft and dishonestly receiving stolen property. He is currently in police custody, and further investigations are underway.