Palanpur: Stealing jewellery or cash is common — but stealing temple bells is something even police officers don’t come across every day. Yet, Modasa Town police arrested an 18-year-old boy accused of stealing bells from two temples in Aravalli district and recovered 26 bells and broken bell pieces with the total seized property including a bike valued at Rs 1.10 lakh. Officials said the bells were stolen from Kiraai Mata Temple near Dadhariya village and Jagdishwar Mahadev Temple in Pahadpur village. Aravalli DSP Manoharsinh Jadeja said, “A police team was conducting night patrolling near a temple when they saw a bike moving around suspiciously. The rider, however, fled seeing the cops. While escaping, he threw the bag full of bells on the road. The bells were seized and the police later traced him,” said Aravalli DSP Manoharsinh Jadeja.The accused was identified as Vishnu Vadi, a resident of Piprana village in Malpur taluka. Jadeja said he used to sell the stolen bells for scrap.“The bells contain metals like copper, bronze and others which fetch good value in the market. He is a professional thief who has offences of temple thefts registered against him,” the SP added.Police recovered three bells weighing around 15kg worth Rs 15,000, five weighing around 7 kg worth Rs 5,000, six weighing around 1 kg worth Rs 6,000, 12 weighing around 500 grams worth Rs 6,000, and broken bells weighing around 28 kg worth Rs 28,000. The total value of the bells was estimated at Rs 60,000.Two cases have been detected in connection with the thefts – one at Modasa Town Police Station and another Titoi Police Station
