The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Computers stolen from schools, colleges recovered; one arrested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Computers stolen from schools, colleges recovered; one arrested

Staff Reporter

Police arrest 18-year-old technician from Raichur district

BANGALORE: A computer technician used his skills to steal rather than repair equipment. In a span of 10 months, he stole 45 computers.

The 18-year-old technician, Gangadharaiah of Manvi in Raichur district, targeted government schools and colleges in Tumkur and Bangalore districts. His modus operandi was simple: he would break into computer labs in various institutions at night, dismantle the equipment in the darkness, bundle them in gunny bags, seal them, and walk out with the booty.

He would sell the computers to unsuspecting buyers at a very low price ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) P. Muniswamy said: "The accused sold the computers by convincing buyers that they were lying unutilised in the educational institutions." Ironically, he lived in a room just opposite the Mahadevapura police station.

But his luck ran out. As he was loading the gunny bag in an autorickshaw a few nights back, beat constables of Mahadevapura police station questioned him and took him into custody, along with the gunny bag.

The police have charged him in 16 cases of thefts.

He operated in Tumkur, Bangalore Rural, and Bangalore Urban districts.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka