TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A 65-year-old woman helped police make a major breakthrough into a spate of housebreaking thefts and one foiled attempt, in Collem, Sanguem and Curchorem, all of which were reported on April 28.
The Collem police arrested a history sheeter and Sanquelim resident Prakash Patil from Tivim late Wednesday night, and solved three day-light burglary cases in the three towns. The accused has a string of thefts reported against him in Goa and two in adjoining states.
His accomplice – an unidentified burglar from Sanquelim, is still at large even as North Goa Superintendent of Police Priyanka Kashyap said a manhunt has been launched to trace him. The Collem police have recovered the stolen property — mostly gold jewellery amounting to Rs 9 lakh.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, SP Kashyap disclosed that the police tracked him down based on a facial sketch prepared from the description given by the 65-year-old woman.
“Before striking the Collem house on the fateful morning, he attempted to burgle another house only to back out after he saw a few children playing inside,” she said in the presence of SDPO Dinraj Govekar and investigating officer, police inspector Jivba Dalvi.
The A 65-year-old woman, a key witness in the case, approached Patil and asked him whom he was looking out for. Kashyap said the accused then misled her saying he wanted to inquire about used four-wheelers to which she asked him to visit a place at Shirdon. “The woman had watched Patil closely, suspecting foul play. It was based on her description of the accused that we managed to identify and subsequently arrest him,” she said.
It was after this failed attempt, Patil who was accompanied by his crime partner, struck an empty house belonging to Ramakant Khandeparkar and decamped with gold ornaments and cash of Rs 1.26 lakh.
Patil has seven house breaking thefts reported against him at various police stations in Bicholim, Ponda, Old Goa, Agassaim, Panjim, Calangute and Mapusa. He has been booked for burglaries in various parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka as well. The SP said they are seeking details from its police counterparts to strengthen the case against him in Goa.
Disclosing his modus operandi, the police team said the duo would target vacant houses which do not have automatic door locks. They would strike their target hours after conducting a recce around the place. Police expect to solve more cases with the arrest of Patil.
