Kanpur: Police on Friday claimed to have solved a Rs 15 lakh house theft case and arrested a repeat offender who allegedly financed lavish trips to Goa with his girlfriend using stolen money.The accused, Anshu Pasi (28), allegedly visited Goa five times after committing major thefts. Police recovered Rs 1 lakh in cash, 632 grams of silver, an illegal country-made pistol and a scooty allegedly purchased with stolen money. They also said the accused belongs to a family of habitual thieves linked to several high-profile theft cases in the city.The accused, a native of Musafirkhana in Amethi, was currently living in Mayapuram in Gujaini, Kanpur. Police said photographs of his trips to Goa with his girlfriend were recovered from his mobile phone.DCP South Deependra Nath Chaudhary said the theft was reported by Anil Kumar Verma, a resident of Swarn Jayanti Vihar in Sen Paschim Para, who works for a private company. On June 19, Anil and his sister Hemlata had gone to work, while his daughters locked the house in the afternoon and went to their aunt’s residence. When they returned in the evening, they found the main gate lock broken, the almirah open and jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh along with Rs 30,000 in cash missing.Police formed three teams, including personnel from Sen Paschim Para police station, to investigate the case. Based on CCTV footage, investigators identified a suspicious scooty and traced the accused.During interrogation, police said Anshu confessed that he committed the theft along with Himanshu, Goldy and Sagar, all residents of Karrahi Road. The DCP said Anshu had earlier spent around one-and-a-half years in jail in a theft case registered in Bidhnu. After his recent release, he allegedly resumed committing thefts with his associates.Police said Anshu admitted to leading a lavish lifestyle with the proceeds of theft and frequently travelling to Goa with his girlfriend after committing major crimes. Raids are underway to arrest the absconding co-accused—Himanshu, Goldy and Sagar.The DCP said Anshu is the brother of Gopal Takkal, whose gang has allegedly been involved in several thefts across Kanpur. The gang comprised Gopal, his brothers Vishal, Anshu and a minor sibling, while another brother, Akash, who was also allegedly involved in thefts, has since died. Vishal is currently lodged in jail in connection with the Rs 70 lakh Chakeri theft case, Gopal was released on bail some time ago, and the minor brother is lodged in a juvenile reform home in Etawah in a theft case.
