Hyderabad cops nab laptop thieves, recover 9 stolen devices worth Rs. 2 lakhs

Hyderabad: The SR Nagar police apprehended three individuals involved in a series of laptop thefts from boys’ and PG hostels in Bapunagar and surrounding areas. The arrests were made on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. near Amberpet.

The accused have been identified as Bandlamudi Chinna Avulaiah (30), who is suspected to be the main culprit behind the thefts; Nandigama Venkata Krishna (33), who is believed to have received stolen laptops; and Mekala Venkateswarlu (30), a private employee residing in Amberpet, Hyderabad, who is also suspected to have received stolen laptops. All three are natives of Bestavaripeta, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

The police recovered nine stolen laptops from the possession of the accused. These laptops were linked to various police complaint numbers:
Cr. No: 977/2023 (Lenovo Laptop); Cr. No: 48/2024 (Dell Laptop); Cr. No: 575/2024 (Dell Laptop); Cr. No: 707/2024 (HP Laptop i3 processor); Cr. No: 796/2024 (Dell Laptop); Cr. No: 771/2024 (Lenovo Thinkpad laptop); Cr. No: 781/2024 (Lenovo ThinkPad Laptop); Cr. No: 799/2024 (Asus Laptop); Cr. No: 805/2024 (HP laptop) and the total estimated value of the recovered laptops is Rs. 2.13 lakhs.

According to the police investigation, Bandlamudi Chinna Avulaiah previously worked as a security guard at the Erragadda Metro Railway Station and other locations. He returned to his hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic and, upon returning to Hyderabad in 2023, worked as a security guard at various places in Gachibowli and Kondapur.

The investigation revealed that Bandlamudi Chinna Avulaiah allegedly resorted to stealing laptops from boys’ and PG hostels in Bapunagar and surrounding areas to meet his financial needs. These areas fell under the jurisdiction of the SR Nagar Police Station, where he had previously resided. He allegedly sold the stolen laptops to the other two accused, Nandigama Venkata Krishna and Mekala Venkateswarlu.

Acting on a tip-off, the SR Nagar police team, led by Inspector of Police T Srinath Reddy, Detective-Inspector M Gopal, and Sub-Inspector R Raju, apprehended the three accused and recovered the stolen laptops. The arrests were made under the supervision and guidance of S. M Vijay Kumar, IPS DCP of West Zone, and under the directions of P Venkataramana, Assistant Commissioner of Police, SR Nagar Division.

All three accused have been presented before the Honorable Court for judicial remand.