Pernem police have arrested Tejas Gurav (28), the third member of a high-profile burglary gang responsible for daylight housebreaking and mangalsutra snatching cases. Gurav, a resident of Malpe-Pernem and originally from Rajapur, Maharashtra, has been taken into custody, and police seized an additional Rs 17.56 lakh, bringing the total recovery to over Rs 71 lakh.
The arrest follows the earlier capture of gang members Rohan Padwal (29) and Jagannath Bagkar (20). Since December 2024, the trio allegedly targeted homes in Dhargal, Virnoda, and Korgao between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., when residents were away at work.
Police said the gang, reportedly inspired by movies, employed sophisticated tactics to avoid detection. They regularly repainted their getaway scooters every two weeks and used forged number plates with microscopic lettering to bypass CCTV cameras.
The stolen gold was later pledged at nationalised banks and private firms to secure loans, funding the gang’s extravagant lifestyle, including luxury cars, bikes, and online gaming.
Padwal remains in custody and was recently booked for a February 2025 case involving the theft of a mangalsutra worth Rs 4.5 lakh. Police continue investigations to trace additional stolen property.
