Udupi: Notorious inter-state thief arrested in Kapu house burglary case

Udupi: Notorious inter-state thief arrested in Kapu house burglary case

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, January 3, 2026: Kapu police have arrested a notorious inter-state and inter-district thief in connection with a major house burglary that took place in Mallar village of Kapu taluk.

The arrested accused has been identified as Umesh Balegar alias Umesh P alias Umesh Reddy.

The theft occurred during daytime on December 4. The complainant, Raghavendra Kini, a resident of ‘Ramanatha Kripa’ house in Mallar village, had locked his house from outside and kept the key inside the electricity meter box. Taking advantage of this, the miscreants removed the key from the meter box, opened the front door, locked the house from inside, and stole valuable items.

Gold ornaments weighing about 72 grams, silver articles worth approximately ₹3.90 lakh, and additional silver items worth around ₹1,500 were stolen from a cupboard in the house. Following the incident, a case was registered at the Kapu Police Station.

Considering the modus operandi of the theft, a special investigation team was formed under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, Additional SP Sudhakar S. Nayak, former Assistant Superintendent of Police of Karkala Dr. Harsha Priyamvada, and in-charge DySP of Karkala subdivision Prabhu D.T. The team, led by Kapu Circle Inspector Azmath Ali G, conducted a detailed investigation and arrested the accused on January 2.

Investigations revealed that the accused has an extensive criminal history. Around 16 cases are registered against him in police stations across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, while about 17 cases are registered in various police stations in Karnataka. He has already been convicted in eight cases.

Non-bailable warrants have been issued against him by courts in cases registered at police stations in Thannippalam, Mavoor, and Thrissur in Kerala; Subrahmanya, Belthangady, Puttur City, and Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district; Sirsi Rural in Uttara Kannada district; and Basavanahalli Police Station in Chikkamagaluru district.

An LPC warrant is also pending against him in a case registered at Thirthahalli Police Station in Shivamogga district, where he had been absconding. Additionally, courts have issued proclamation orders against him in two cases registered at Shringeri Police Station in Chikkamagaluru district.

The operation was carried out by CI Azmath Ali G along with Padubidri PSI Anil Kumar T. Nayak, Kapu PSI Shubhakara, Padubidri ASI Rajesh, staff members Mohanchandra, Raghu, Jeevan, jeep driver Jagadish, and CDR section staff Dinesh and Nithin.