BTech dropout held for thefts, wore burqa to evade arrest

Hyderabad: Police arrested a 25-year-old woman for allegedly stealing gold and silver ornaments and cash from locked houses in Uppal, Hyderabad.

Paga Jaya, a homemaker, has been apprehended for 10 thefts in 20 days, involving gold, silver and an iPhone 17, totalling Rs 70 lakh, police said.

She would wear a burqa to conceal her identity and avoid detection. She carried a cutting machine in her backpack. She was arrested near the LB Nagar Bus Stop from Uppal X Roads on Saturday, October 31.

Recently, she targeted the house of Gangam Bhaskar Reddy, who had gone to visit the Sri Mallana Swamy temple in Komuravelli. His tenant noticed an unlocked gate and informed him. Upon returning, he found the two cupboards in the main bedroom and his children’s room ransacked. About 48 tolas of gold ornaments, 1.5 kg of silver articles and Rs 2 lakh in cash were reportedly stolen.

Based on his complaint, Uppal Police registered a first information report (FIR) and began an investigation. CCTV footage (click here) of the area showed a woman, dressed in a burqa with a backpack, entering Reddy’s house and then walking away after some time.

Jaya has confessed to the crime. She hails from Bhadradri Kothagudem district and is a BTech college dropout from Anubose College. She discontinued her studies due to financial problems at home. Her family got her married and she moved to Hyderabad with her husband in 2024. The couple resided in New Bharat Nagar in Uppal.

She resorted to stealing to lead a luxurious life. She sold the gold and silver and used it for personal expenses, police said.

Meanwhile, Naveen is a habitual offender. It is not yet clear if they are related. Investigations are on, police said.

She has been arrested under Sections 331(4) (tresspass and house breaking) and 305(a) (theft) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (BNS).

Police are also investigating whether she has an accomplice who helped her with the theft.

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