Mumbai: The Worli police have arrested a 35-year-old habitual offender near the India-Pakistan border on the Gujarat side after he stole luxury watches worth ₹20 lakh from a complainant's residence. The accused, identified as Mukeshbhai Ranchhod Vanodiya alias Mukesh Kharwa alias Langda, was caught while attempting to sell the stolen goods. He is a resident of JK Kapoor Chowk, AG Khan Road, near Public Toilet Garden, Worli.

A detection team led by Assistant Inspector Nilesh Bhalerao of the Worli Police Station tracked Kharwa to a notorious Chor Bazaar in Gujarat, where he was trying to sell the stolen watches—Garmin Fenix 7X Pro, Omega Seamaster, and Jaeger LeCoultre. The police managed to nab him in time and recovered all three watches before they could be sold.

Kharwa, who had been living on the pavements of Dadar, has now been remanded to judicial custody. According to the police, he is a repeat offender with five previous cases of house break-in and theft registered at Dadar Police Station. Senior Inspector Ravindra Katkar of Worli Police swiftly dispatched a team to apprehend him before he could dispose of the stolen items.

Scaling Coconut Tree to Break In

Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Katkar stated that around 3:00 AM, Kharwa scaled a coconut tree leaning into the complainant's building compound. He then used bamboo scaffolding (erected for building repairs) to climb to the second-floor apartment. Entering through an open window, he stole three expensive watches from a bedroom table. He also attempted to steal a pair of gold bangles, but accidentally dropped one, causing a family member to wake up. Sensing danger, Kharwa fled the scene the same way he had entered.

Tracked Down Using Mobile Location

During the investigation, police traced Kharwa’s roots to Botad district, Gujarat, where his parents reside. A late-night raid at their house, however, revealed he wasn’t there. Instead, police discovered that Kharwa's father had been in contact with him, leading them to track his mobile location. Following this lead, they arrested him at his brother’s house.

Kharwa has been booked under Sections 305 and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigations are underway.