Two arrested for temple thefts in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: The CCB sleuths have arrested two persons in connection with thefts reported in 13 temples and Daivastanas and three house break thefts in the city limits and recovered gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 28.4 lakh.
The accused are Naga Naika, 55, from Chikkamagaluru and Maruthi CV, 33, from Davanagere. On November 10, a resident of Ashok Nagar locked his house and left for Thanjavur in connection with his daughter's wedding.On his return at 7am on November 12, he realised that thieves had robbed gold worth Rs 6.8 lakh from the house. A case was registered and the CCB police began its investigation.
City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said on Thursday that Naga Naika is an accused in several similar cases reported in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. In Mangaluru, he is involved in nearly 16 cases reported between 2018 and 2021.
Police have recovered 406 grams gold ornaments worth Rs 18 lakh and 16 kg silver ornaments worth Rs 10.4 lakh. The stolen property was recovered from a jewellery store in Davangere, from Naga Naika's house and from a shop owned by Maruthi in Channagiri.
Naika would travel from Tarikere by bus to Mangaluru and stay at bus stands or maidans. During the day he would keep a watch on houses, temples and Daivastanas and during the night he would rob them. He targeted small temples that lacked security.