THANE: With the arrest of 18 criminals from various parts of the district, police claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the investigations into the ongoing dacoities in the district.

Police nabbed criminals from various places including Jawhar, Nashik, and Palghar and weapons and other materials used in the dacoities were recovered from the gang members, Thane Superintendent of Police (rural) Naval Bajaj said.

The SP said with arrest of one S Rajput at Palghar police have solved a jewellery loot case on LT Road.