Burglary is a family business for this Pune trio

Investigation, following detention of a minor by the Pune crime branch, revealed involvement of his parents in at least 14 cases of break-ins and thefts...

For a trio from Pune — husband, wife and their son — burglary is a family business. This came to the fore after officers from Pune crime branch detained their 17-year-old son for his alleged involvement in a mobile phone theft. Investigation later revealed about the family’s involvement in 14 other break-ins and thefts.

Cops said while the teenager committed the break-ins, it was the parents’ job to sell the stolen valuables.(Representation pic)

Nanabhau Lanke and his wife Deepali were arrested after the police detained their son in a case pertaining mobile phone theft. During his questioning, the teenager spilled the beans about the involvement of his parents and how the three worked as a team to execute break-ins and thefts.

Accordingly, officers from crime branch (Unit IV) raided Lanke residence at Kasturba housing society in Vishrantwadi and recovered laptops, tablets, gold and other valuables, collectively worth Rs8 lakh.

Narrating their modus operandi, deputy commissioner of police Deepak Sakore said the teenager would commit the break-ins and the valuables he stole were sold by his parents at cheaper rates.He added that Deepak was in-charge of selling the stolen gold to the local jewellers. The police have arrested Pravin Parkhe, a jeweller from Khadki Bazar, for purchasing jewellery from Deepak.

Assistant commissioner of police Arun Walture said while the teenager has six cases against him, his parents have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act.

Police said Deepak heads the Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the minorities, and often used it as a decoy to pressurise the police.