Quran teacher arrested for series of thefts in Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi A man who worked as a Quran teacher in a mosque has been arrested by the Kalaburagi City Police for allegedly committing a string of house burglaries. The accused, identified as Mohammed Arif Ali, had reportedly turned to theft after being unable to repay his debts.

Police have recovered stolen items worth ₹13.41 lakh from his possession, including 100 grams of gold ornaments, silver articles worth ₹16,000, and a motorcycle used in the crimes.

According to the police, Arif Ali, a resident of Bilalabad Colony in Kalaburagi, taught Quran lessons in a local mosque. However, in the past several months, he had secretly started targeting locked houses in his own neighborhood.

His daily routine involved teaching at the mosque in the morning and then roaming residential areas on his bike during the afternoon and evening to identify locked houses. Later, around 3 a.m., when the residents were fast asleep, he would break the locks using an iron rod and steal valuables.

Police investigations revealed that the accused had been under severe financial stress due to debts and family expenses. His meager salary of ₹10,000–₹12,000 per month was insufficient to run his household, which reportedly drove him to take up theft as an alternative source of income.

Officers from the University Police Station, who were investigating a series of house burglaries in the area, examined CCTV footage from various colonies and identified the suspect. Upon questioning, Arif confessed to his crimes.

The Kalaburagi City Police have commended the University Police Station team for their effective investigation and swift action in cracking the theft cases.

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