Sleuths from the Central Crime Branch, Bengaluru City Police, recently arrested a 44-year-old habitual offender who used to break into houses, using a duplicate key which he would make on the spot using aluminium foil.
The accused, identified as Prakash Balaji, a habitual burglar, has 53 cases pending against him and was arrested by the city police in a similar case a few months ago.
While he was in Parappana Agarahara Central Prison complex, the accused allegedly befriended a notorious habitual offender from North India, who taught him the art of making duplicate keys using aluminium foil on the spot.
After learning this, Prakash came out on bail one-and-a-half months ago and committed six cases of house breaks, the police said.
Based on a tip-off, the police tracked down the accused to Bannappa Park where he used to hide despite having a house. The accused was married to the daughter of a retired policeman and the family knew about his profession, the police said. It was a love marriage, the police added.
Based on his confession, the police recovered 422 grams of gold valuables and a motorcycle worth ₹27.4 lakh from him.
