Police from the Beta 2 station in Greater Noida have apprehended a serial burglar who had managed to evade law enforcement agencies for nearly a decade. Investigators tracked down the habitual offender by meticulously examining footage from over 250 CCTV cameras installed across the region. Officials recovered a substantial cache of stolen gold and silver ornaments worth approximately Rs 11 lakh from the suspect. Additional DCP Abhay Mishra provided detailed information about the arrest and investigation during a press conference on Friday.
Electronic Surveillance Leads to Arrest of Dadri Resident
Acting on specific leads gathered through technical tracking and electronic surveillance, Beta 2 police teams set up a perimeter within the station area and took the suspect into custody. The arrested individual has been identified as Sarmin, also known by the alias Shambhu, a resident of Street Number 2 in Badshah Colony under Dadri police station jurisdiction. The suspect had been shifting hideouts and staying on the run while continuing to target locked homes across residential sectors.
Three Gold Necklaces and Multiple Silver Ornaments Seized
Upon taking the suspect into custody, officers recovered a wide variety of stolen jewellery items. The seizure includes 3 gold necklaces, 2 gold maang tikas, and 2 delicate gold ear-chains. In addition to the gold articles, police also confiscated several pieces of silver jewellery, comprising 2 silver anklets, 2 silver samples, 1 silver necklace, 1 silver bracelet, 4 children's silver bangles, and 4 silver toe rings. The total market valuation of these seized valuables stands at roughly Rs 11 lakh.
Recce of Locked Houses and Confessions Across Multiple Sectors
Additional DCP Abhay Mishra explained that the suspect followed a consistent modus operandi of conducting reconnaissance on locked houses before executing break-ins. He systematically liquidated the stolen jewellery to generate illicit funds for his personal lifestyle. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to executing burglaries approximately 7 to 8 months ago in Sector Alpha 1 and Sector Alpha 2, alongside several other break-ins across the Greater Noida region. Investigators pieced together his movements across these crime scenes using footage from nearly 250 CCTV cameras alongside surveillance data.
Reliance on Keypad Phones to Dodge Digital Tracking
To avoid leaving a digital footprint for investigators, the accused intentionally avoided smartphones and relied exclusively on basic keypad handsets that are harder to pinpoint through modern tracking software. Official records reveal that he had walked out of prison in 2016 and immediately resumed his criminal activities across multiple territories. Alongside the Gautam Buddha Nagar police, law enforcement teams from several surrounding districts had also been searching for him, bringing an end to his decade-long run from justice.
