Udupi: Thieves strike again; series of thefts reported in Kodankur
Mangalore Today News Network
Udupi, July 8, 2025: A fresh wave of burglaries has struck Udupi, with a series of break-ins reported in Kodankur, particularly targeting unoccupied houses. The culprits remain unidentified, and investigations are underway.
One of the major thefts was reported at the residence of Shakuntala Shetty, who lives with her niece in Ammunje and visits her Kodankur home once every two weeks for cleaning. During her last visit on June 20, everything appeared normal. However, on July 7, her neighbor Vasudeva Rao informed her that the front door lock had been broken. She rushed to the house and found it had been forcibly opened. Gold and silver ornaments worth approximately Rs 1.7 lakh were stolen. The stolen items included gold earrings, a Lakshmi pendant, gold rings, red coral and black-beaded gold chains, a silver waist belt, and silver anklets.
In a separate case, Ashwath, a Kodankur resident currently based in Shikaripura for his tile business, also fell victim to burglary. His mother, who lived in the Kodankur house, had accompanied him to Shikaripura 15 days earlier. His niece Chaitra, who visits weekly, went to the house on July 5 but later left to meet a friend. The next morning, she returned to find the house broken into and valuables stolen. Thieves made away with gold earrings (5 grams), a gold pendant (2 grams), and Rs 20,000 cash. A case has been registered at the Udupi city police station.
Another burglary was reported at the residence of Kalavathi, who left for Bengaluru with her husband on July 5. The next day, neighbors alerted her to a suspected break-in. Her son-in-law Sudhakar visited the house and found the door lock had been broken and a Godrej cupboard damaged. The value and list of stolen items are yet to be confirmed.
These incidents follow a pattern of unresolved theft cases in Udupi. Past cases, including masked intruders looting flats, chain snatching in Moodusagri, and thefts in Budnar and a government residential complex opposite the city police station, remain unsolved.
The police believe the lack of adequate CCTV coverage in residential areas may be aiding the burglars. Despite several homes in the neighborhood, none of the residents reported hearing or seeing anything, likely due to the heavy rainfall during the early hours—when the burglaries are suspected to have occurred.
Police have identified two masked individuals in CCTV footage from the area, seen entering from the highway. Given the similarities with past thefts targeting vacant homes, authorities suspect the involvement of a repeat gang.
Udupi District Superintendent of Police confirmed that multiple CCTV recordings are being analyzed, and efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the culprits.
In response, the police have issued safety advisories for residents:
* Inform local police before leaving town.
* Avoid visible locking of latches with padlocks, as it signals absence.
* Install CCTV cameras for deterrence and investigative support.
* Refrain from posting travel plans on social media.
* Store valuables in bank lockers before extended travel.
Authorities urge residents to stay vigilant and cooperate with police to prevent further such incidents.