Pune: The Pune Rural police have arrested Aditya Balasaheb Kawade (22) of Shrigonda in Ahmednagar pertaining to a series of thefts in liquor stores, eateries and other outlets, especially on the Pune-Solarpur highway, in the last four months.
Ankit Goyal, superintendent of Pune rural police, led a team, including senior inspector Avinash Shilimkar, and arrested Kawade after receiving a tip-off in the last week of December 2023.The accused targeted eateries and liquor shops along the highway, police told TOI.
During the investigation, police found that Kawade stole three motorcycles to execute all the thefts. He targeted eateries and other shops located in Yavat, Daund, Baramati, Hadapsar, Loni Kalbhor, and other areas on the Pune-Solapur highway.
“Aditya Balasaheb Kawade has completed bachelor’s in pharmacy (BPharma) but failed to secure a well-paying job. However, since he needed money to meet his expenses, he started robbing eateries, restaurants, bars, liquor shops, and other establishments. He stole petty cash and liquor bottles,” an officer said.
“We recovered three motorcycles and other valuables collectively worth Rs 3.22 lakh. Our investigation is underway,” Avinash Shilimkar, senior inspector of the Pune rural police, said.
“He used to move along the highway on a motorcycle alone or with his friend to target any shop. Furthermore, once he studied his target, he used to enter late at night and rob liquor bottles and small cash ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000,” police said while commenting on his modus operandi. He has executed over 12 such thefts in the last four months, the police added.
Police suspect that Aditya Balasaheb Kawade might have been involved in more robbery cases, but because of the petty amounts of cash, many owners and operators did not approach the police.
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