Daylight Burglar Arrested: A Career Criminal’s Shocking Crime Spree Revealed | Bengaluru News – Times of India

BENGALURU: When Karwar police arrested a man on charges of breaking into a house on Nov 7 in the coastal town and fleeing with booty worth over Rs 5.6 lakh, they thought he was just another burglar. However, upon matching his fingerprints with the national database comprising samples of 2 crore suspects, they were shocked.
There were more than 100 cases against him in Bengaluru alone between 2015 and 2019. He had 30 non-bailable warrants issued against him and 20 notices terming him a proclaimed offender. Also, he was booked in seven cases in Goa and five cases in Punjab for burglaries since 2019.
The suspect, S Sameer Sharma, 40, from Srinagar in south Bengaluru, had gone missing from the city in 2019.
Only during day
In his nearly decade-old career, Sameer never stole at night. “It is risky. People tend to suspect you more at night than in the day. During the day, I would roam around residential areas or localities with PG accommodations or even hostels under the pretext of looking for a place for myself. While roaming, I make a mental note of windows and rooms which I could use to break into the premises. A little later, I would strike and walk away with whatever valuables I’d get,” Sameer told police.
Sameer is a ‘lone wolf’ and never worked with anyone. “During his prison days, Sameer interacted very little with other inmates. He never shared information about himself as he trusted no one,” an officer said.
Karwar SP M Narayan told TOI they have written to Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda regarding Sameer’s arrest and other details about him.
From shopkeeper to thief
Sameer ran an electricals and electronics shop in Srinagar in 2010 but was not happy with the income. A friend from Rajasthan, who was arrested on charges of stealing electronic gadgets, told Sameer that in future, there would be a huge demand for laptops and mobile phones. Sameer realised that stealing laptops placed on tables through windows or by walking in through open doors in hostels and PG accommodations would be much easier than snatching mobile phones.
“That was how Sameer turned a thief, but with peculiar behaviour. He never mixed with anyone, never trusted anyone. He always worked alone and visited cities by spending the booty,” a police officer said.