Sambalpur: Burglary at Home; Police Bust Gang Involved in Cash and Gold Theft

Sambalpur Police Capture Gang of Nine

Sambalpur: Sambalpur police arrested a gang of nine individuals involved in stealing cash and valuable items, including gold jewelry, from houses at night. The police recovered a significant amount of stolen goods and sent the accused to jail.

Details of the Accused

The Sambalpur police arrested nine individuals involved in a series of thefts, including Narendra Nayak (22), Devendra Nayak (20), Sagar Bag (24), Ramakant Oram (19), Kartik Behera (20), Manoj Meher (35), Bharat Bag (21), Badal Munda (19), and Biju Mallik (26). During the operation, the police recovered several stolen items, including 11 gold rings, 4 gold bangles, 2 pairs of gold earrings, 1 gold locket, 5 silver coins, 1 gold necklace, 3 bracelets, 1 refrigerator, 1 LCD TV, 1 induction cooker, 3 Sony speakers, 1 trolley bag, and 1 gold chain. These items were seized after thorough investigations into the thefts carried out by this gang.

Investigation and Arrest

The thefts took place in December 2024 and January 2025, and the gang was apprehended after a series of investigations led by Additional SP Prakash Jais tapno. One significant incident occurred on January 14, when the gang broke into the house of Avinash Panda in Budharaja, stealing items such as a TV, gas stove, gold chain, and bracelet. The investigation identified Narendra Nayak as the leader who planned and executed these thefts with his gang.

How the Gang Operated

The gang members, often under the influence of drugs, entered houses by breaking gates or grills. They targeted homes where residents were absent, taking advantage of the situation to steal valuables.

Other Incidents

On December 15 and 16, the gang robbed a house in Sourabh Vihar, stealing items like a refrigerator, guitar, gold necklace, bangles, mobile phones, laptop, and tablet. Another theft was reported in Shivam Colony on December 16, when the family was out of town.

Prior Criminal Records

Most of the accused already had multiple cases registered against them and used well-planned strategies to execute their thefts, carefully monitoring potential targets before striking. SDPO Tofan Bag and Pradumna Swain shared these details during a press conference held at the Ainthapali police station.