King of Pickpockets Arrested in Hyderabad; Over Rs 18 Lakh Worth Gold Chain Seized

Hyderabad: Hyderabad police arrested a robber and seized gold ornaments weighing 343 grams, worth about Rs 18.5 lakh from him. Six other members of the gang are absconding.

The accused was identified as K S Makkan alias Kasab Makka of Mallepally in Hyderabad. The police have also arrested one Praveen Ramesh Verma, a receiver of the stolen chains.

Reportedly, Makkan is allegedly involved in 37 theft cases in police stations across Hyderabad and Cyberabad police jurisdictions between 2009 and 2023.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt said that Makkan and his associates Bhola, Mannan, Sikander, Hira, Bakri Sikinder, and Khadeer, all of whom are absconding, had started out pickpocketing wallets from people standing in queues. The gang later started to loot chains from the passengers boarded RTC buses.

“Once they identify the passenger then Mannan, Sikander, Hira, and Bakri Sikinder divert the attention of the passenger. Bhola, who is an expert in cutting gold chains with his teeth, cut the gold chain, and one among them would tactfully take away the gold chain and flee the scene,” the DCP said.

The police apprehended the accused in Begum Bazar when Makkan came to sell the stolen gold chains.