The crime branch of Pune police has busted two gangs involved in house break-ins and cracked 18 cases committed in the city.
It arrested four Nepalese working as watchmen in private companies in Pimpri area in connection with three house break-ins in Pune and a few in Mumbai.
The gang was also involved in one case of chain snatching.
The suspects, Navram Tikaram Joshi (26), Kashiram Motiram Bhandari (36), Chaitraj Deviram Bhandari (22) and Deepak Joshi, used to send the loot to their native places in Nepal, the police said.
After being tipped off, a crime branch team led by inspectors Arun Walture and Sunil Bhosale laid a trap and arrested the four suspects on Tuesday.
Gold and silver ornaments and utensils, cash and a car totally valued at Rs6 lakh were recovered.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rajesh Bansode said, “One more accomplice Tarachand Bhandari has fled to Nepal.”
Meanwhile, the crime branch arrested three history-sheeters and recovered gold valued at Rs15 lakh from their possession.
With this arrest, 15 cases of house break-ins in Sangvi, Hinjewadi and Chinchwad and one chain snatching case has been solved.
The suspects have been identified as Anil Malhari Talaware (22) of Bhimnagar in Pimpri, Ravi alias Raghu Ashok Giri (23) of Landgewadi in Bhosari and Nitin alias Mahadu Landage (23) of Laxminagar in Moshi.
Bansode said the suspects were arrested while checking lodges and hotels in the city.
Senior inspector Mohan Vidhate said, “The trio formed a gang in jail. They also snatched a chain of a woman in April 14 last year and fled on a bike.”
