07 January,2026 02:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Representational Image
A New Year holiday in Goa turned into a nightmare for a Lokhandwala-based film and television production family after their bungalow was burgled and valuables worth nearly Rs 45 lakh were stolen. The Oshiwara Police have arrested a habitual burglar in connection with the high-value theft, which occurred while the family was away celebrating New Year's Eve.
The accused has been identified as Manoj Rathod (40). He was arrested from Virar East, and police have recovered nearly 90 per cent of the stolen property.
According to police, the burglary took place at a bungalow located behind Magnum Tower on 2nd Cross Road in Lokhandwala. The house belongs to a 53-year-old film and television producer who lives there with his wife, children and 82-year-old mother, along with domestic staff.
At the time of the incident, the family members were away in Goa, leaving the elderly mother and a relative of her daughter-in-law at home.
Police said the burglar entered the bungalow between 11 pm on December 29 and 7.30 am on December 30 by forcing open a bathroom window on the second floor. The intruder allegedly moved silently through the house while the occupants were asleep.
At around 2.40 am, the elderly woman woke up to use the washroom and noticed faint noises but ignored them. She later observed that a bathroom window was not closing properly and assumed it had been opened by domestic staff.
"It was only in the morning that the crime came to light. One of the maids noticed that a window handle in the library was broken and several rooms, including the bedrooms of family members and grandchildren, were found ransacked," said a police officer.
Further checks revealed that a safe locker kept inside a cupboard had been completely removed.
A detailed inventory later confirmed that the burglar had stolen:
Diamond, ruby and emerald earrings, rings and bracelets
A Cartier diamond and emerald bracelet
Gold bangles, bracelets and ornaments belonging to the grandmother
Silver plates, spoons, utensils, frames and household silverware
Foreign currency
Three passports and signed blank stamp papers
Cash belonging to a relative and a domestic help
The total value of the stolen property has been estimated at Rs 45 lakh.
Based on the complaint filed by the elderly woman, Oshiwara Police registered an FIR and launched an intensive investigation under the guidance of DCP (Zone 9) Dixit Gedam and Senior Inspector Sanjay Chauhan.
Technical surveillance, CCTV footage and human intelligence led the police to Rathod, who was arrested from Virar a few days later.
During interrogation, police found that Rathod is a notorious and habitual offender with more than a dozen burglary cases registered against him across Mumbai and adjoining areas.
"For nearly five years, the accused had stayed away from criminal activity and had completely cut off contact with his former associates. When police tried tracing him through old informers, several believed he might have died," said an officer.
Police sources said that after stealing passports and documents, the accused discarded them a short distance from the bungalow.
Following Rathod's arrest, police have recovered over 90 per cent of the stolen property. Further investigation is ongoing, and the accused is currently in police custody.
