NOB_Kodad, Suryapet District: In a major breakthrough, Suryapet District Police solved 10 locked-house theft cases in Kodad town and arrested a serial burglar from Hyderabad.

Suryapet SP K. Narasimha, IPS, disclosed the details at a press conference on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Patnam Shetty Raju @ Raji Reddy (41), a car driver and resident of Papireddy Nagar Colony, Jagadgirigutta, Hyderabad.

Modus Operandi:
Police said the accused would bring passengers from Hyderabad to Kodad and stay back at night in the town. He would park his Honda Amaze car in a deserted area with a fake number plate (TS 07 GC 1612) while the original number is AP 28 BY 7770. In the early morning hours, he would identify locked houses, wear shoe socks on his hands to avoid fingerprints, and break open locks with screwdrivers.

Since 2021, he committed 10 thefts in Kodad limits, including 7 thefts in 2026 alone. He has a previous criminal history of cycle theft in Khammam in 2009 and 5 house thefts in Jagadgirigutta in 2015-16.

Property Recovered:
37.2 tulas of gold ornaments worth Rs. 60 lakh
470 grams of silver
Rs. 3.60 lakh cash
Honda Amaze car used for the crime
Vivo Y31 5G mobile phone

The accused was caught on Tuesday morning near Kodad flyover during vehicle checking while he was on his way to Vijayawada to sell the stolen property. On seeing the police, he tried to reverse his car and flee but was nabbed. Police found the stolen property in the car’s trunk.

The accused has been remanded to judicial custody.

SP K. Narasimha appreciated Kodad DSP Srinivas Reddy, CCS Inspector Shivakumar, Kodad Town Inspector Shivashankar and their team for cracking the case and announced rewards.

The SP also advised the public to install CCTV cameras and alarm systems, avoid keeping valuables in locked houses for long periods, and to report any suspicious movements to Dial 112.