Food delivery worker nabbed for breaking into PGs, stealing laptops, phones: Report

A 32-year-old food delivery worker, Naveen Reddy, was arrested in Bengaluru for breaking into PG accommodations and stealing 16 laptops and four mobile phones.

Published on: Nov 6, 2024, 10:17:17 IST

By Yamini C S

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A 32-year-old food delivery worker was recently arrested by the Bellandur police in Bengaluru for allegedly breaking into paying guest (PG) accommodations and stealing electronic devices, The Times of India reported. The suspect has been identified as Naveen Reddy, who hails from Medapalli village in Telangana's Warangal district. He reportedly stole 16 laptops, four mobile phones, and an iPad before being apprehended.

Reddy, the accused, started stealing electronic items from PGs after observing that many residents left their doors unlocked or ajar. (HT Photo)

Reddy, a graduate, moved to Bengaluru a few years ago and had been working with various online food delivery services. Residing in a PG in KR Puram, he observed that many residents left their doors unlocked or ajar. Noticing this opportunity, he began stealing laptops, phones, and other valuables from rooms, especially when occupants were asleep, the report stated. Over the past six months, he allegedly made quick money by selling these stolen items.

The police were alerted on October 27 when a resident reported that his three laptops and an iPad had vanished overnight. Bellandur police increased their patrols around PG accommodations and, on October 29 at around 3:20 am, spotted Reddy leaving a PG building in Boganahalli. Upon questioning, he provided evasive answers, prompting the officers to search him and uncover a stolen laptop, the publication noted.

During interrogation, Reddy admitted to his thefts and explained his method of disposing of the stolen goods. He reportedly photographed the items and listed them on OLX, posing as a second-hand electronics dealer. Buyers from cities including Belagavi, Davanagere, and Hubballi unknowingly purchased stolen laptops and phones, the report added.

The Bellandur police have been able to recover many of the stolen items and are working to return them to their rightful owners. Reddy has since been remanded to judicial custody as efforts continue to trace the remaining devices and their owners, the publication further stated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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