Sateesh Reddy, popularly known as ‘Spider Sateesh’ for his extraordinary ability to scale buildings, has been arrested for stealing jewelry worth over Rs 50 lakh from Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik’s residence. Despite being a 38-year-old school dropout from Bheemili, North Visakhapatnam, Reddy flaunted an extravagant lifestyle owning luxury apartments in Bengaluru, Kadapa, and Visakhapatnam. Recently, he purchased an expensive dog from Indonesia costing Rs 3 lakh.
A senior police officer revealed that Reddy, also called ‘Satti Babu’ or ‘Bujji Stephen’, had a unique modus operandi. Avoiding ground floors and houses with dogs for security reasons, he primarily targeted homes with glass windows that allowed easy entry. His agility in climbing buildings made him a challenging suspect to catch.
Reddy began his criminal career at 25 and by 36 had committed around 80 robberies, with suspicions of involvement in over 100 cases. Before turning to crime, he worked as a taxi driver and later in a Singapore welding factory from 2007 to 2009. After returning to Visakhapatnam, a road accident led to his imprisonment, where interactions with criminals influenced his path into theft.
His first robbery was in 2012, leading to an arrest aided by fingerprint evidence. He then adapted by wearing gloves during subsequent heists. Reddy evolved to target high-value residences, including those of ministers, MPs, MLAs, and businessmen across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala. Police sources noted he used Google to identify wealthy targets, including a contractor and Niranjan Patnaik in Odisha. The contractor’s home was robbed in Nayapalli in 2023.
Reddy reportedly sold stolen gold at discounted prices to dealers in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Bengaluru. Despite having three minor children from two marriages, his criminal record includes at least 10 arrests, with the latest release from Trivandrum central jail on September 4, 2024.
