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Over the past six months, armed burglaries have occurred in more than 18 apartments in Bhubaneswar alone, resulting in the losses exceeding Rs 38 Lakh, official sources said on Monday.
Also Read: Unsafe apartments in Bhubaneswar turn nightmare for residents
Residents of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are facing heightened security concerns as a series of burglaries have taken place in recent months. Cuttack has similarly seen an uptick in residential thefts.
In a recent Legislative Assembly session, the findings were presented following legislator Arabinda Mohapatra's inquiry, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi providing statistical insights.
Isolated apartments in looteras' target
Between September 2024 and February 2025, items valued at Rs 38.44 Lakh were stolen from Bhubaneswar apartments.
Meanwhile, Cuttack reported two apartment burglaries with losses totalling Rs 10 Lakh, alongside 57 home thefts amounting to Rs 39.79 Lakh.
The festive period has coincided with an increase in these incidents, as burglars target homes left vacant by residents. To address this issue, the Commissionerate Police has established a special task force (STF) focusing operations on the city's outskirts.
A notable event had occurred on February 16, 2025, when a known burglar, Arjun Anare, was apprehended during a police operation. He was found in possession of a large stash of stolen gold and cash near Puri Canal. Despite his arrest, the threat from other gangs, particularly those from outside the State, remains significant.
A high-profile burglary involved the residence of Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik, resulting in swift police action. Eighteen days later, a suspect known as 'Spider Satish' was captured. This incident underscored the involvement of outside gangs in targeting Bhubaneswar residences.
Must Read: ‘Spider Satish' used Google to list wealthy people & target them in Bhubaneswar
With these ongoing security challenges, the police have intensified measures by forming specialised units to tackle both grand larcenies and smaller-scale thefts. These efforts highlight the broader necessity for heightened security.
