Patna: Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind a burglary in which jewellery and cash worth around Rs 30 lakh were stolen from two flats in an apartment in New Pataliputra Colony.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Junaid alias Mohammad Zubair alias Baba alias Aryan, a native of Chhabilapur in Nalanda district, was arrested by the Pataliputra police from a rented house near Khas Mahal Road in Jakkanpur. Based on his disclosure, police recovered the stolen jewellery and cash.
During the arrest, police also seized two pistols, eight live cartridges, two magazines, two motorcycles, seven mobile phones, clothes worn during the crime, shoes, a cap, spectacles, an iron cutter, a screwdriver, three laptops, 17 watches of different brands, and various types of keys. A separate case under the Arms Act has been registered at Jakkanpur police station.
Police records indicate that Junaid already has at least six cases registered against him at various police stations, including Rajiv Nagar, Pataliputra, Shastri Nagar, and Gardanibagh. SDPO (Law and Order-2) Divyanjali Jaiswal said the main accused was arrested within 48 hours of the incident, and raids are ongoing to nab his associates.
The theft took place on April 10 at Rahman Enclave Apartment on GD Mishra Path, where flats numbered 201 and 202 were targeted. Following the incident, a 12-member team was formed under the leadership of Pataliputra SHO Atulesh Kumar Singh to investigate the case.
CCTV footage showed three suspects arriving on a red motorcycle, and the vehicle’s registration number was partially identified. During the investigation, police found that the same motorcycle had been used in two other theft cases.
By analysing over two dozen CCTV clips and tracking the movement of the motorcycle, along with identifying features such as footwear and clothing worn by one suspect, police traced the accused to Jakkanpur. He was arrested from a residence where he was found wearing the same shoes seen in the footage.
Police said two other accused are still absconding. During interrogation, Junaid revealed that he had met his accomplices in jail. After their release, the trio allegedly planned and executed the burglary in Pataliputra Colony.
Officials described Junaid as a habitual offender. He was earlier arrested in 2024 in connection with a house theft case under Shastri Nagar police station limits and had also been taken on remand by Pataliputra police in another case.
According to investigators, the gang typically conducted reconnaissance of residential areas using motorcycles before carrying out thefts. While one member kept watch outside, Junaid and another accomplice would break open locks and carry out the theft.
