The sight of open windows of homes excited this early bird. He never flew in, instead stretched his long arms through the window to take gold chains, mobile phones and laptops before running into the darkness.
The sight of open windows of homes excited this early bird. He never flew in, instead stretched his long arms through the window to take gold chains, mobile phones and laptops before running into the darkness.
His luck ran out last week when Malleswaram police arrested him.
Nataraja, alias Loki, 38, a native of Mysore, had a sickly look that evoked sympathy in others and he used this to dodge police at least 10 times.
Whenever he was questioned by night beat police, he told them that he suddenly fell ill and was going to a hospital. Or else he said he was looking for a 24-hour medical store to buy medicines for a family member who suddenly fell ill.
However, Loki’s game ended last week when the police, who accosted him in the street, asked him to show them the prescription.
They took him to the station, where he made the confession. Loki said that during the day, he used to roam the stretch between Malleswaram 13th Cross and 15th Cross to identify posh houses with windows open.
He returned to the streets after 2 am and stretched his hand through open windows to take away valuables.
Most of the thefts happened between 3.30 am and 5.30 am, police said.
“We’d received several complaints about such window thefts and were investigating until he was caught last week. During his confession, Loki mentioned about an accomplice from Mysore. So a police team has gone there to get him,” an investigative officer said on the condition of anonymity.
The police recovered five gold chains worth `4.5 lakh, 15 laptops, one iPod and a few mobile phones from Loki.
Police have requested people not to keep any valuables near the window to avoid such thefts.
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