A 27-year-old former IT professional was arrested for allegedly carrying out a string of house break-ins across Visakhapatnam and other parts of Andhra Pradesh to maintain a lavish lifestyle.
The accused, Achhi Mahesh Reddy, also known as Sunny, was nabbed on Sunday after months of investigation following repeated night-time burglary complaints.
Police say he is a postgraduate who earlier worked with a reputed IT firm in Hyderabad but later turned to crime.
Originally from Kakinada and living in Vizag’s Madhavadhara area, Sunny allegedly committed thefts to fund an expensive lifestyle that included owning a luxury BMW car and making multiple foreign trips.
After his arrest, police solved 26 house break-in cases across areas such as Gajuwaka, Arilova, Malkapuram, Pendurthi and Duvvada.
The stolen property included jewellery and cash worth about ₹24.66 lakh; over 1,084 grams of gold, 6.3 kg of silver and ₹40,500 in cash.
Police recovered around 699 grams of gold ornaments, 3.8 kg of silver, the BMW car bought with stolen money, an unnumbered scooter and burglary tools. The total value of recovered items is estimated at ₹15.63 lakh.
According to Vizag Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi, Sunny has a long criminal history. He was first caught at age 15 for house break-ins and sent to a juvenile home.
After his release, he continued committing burglaries in Kakinada, Rajahmundry and nearby areas, even spending 14 months in Rajahmundry Central Jail. Police records suggest he is involved in over 60 burglary cases statewide.
Investigators said he used masks, caps, gloves and tools like hammers, screwdrivers and drilling machines to break into locked houses. Police have booked him in all related cases, and further investigation is ongoing.
