The accused would break into closed houses, apartments and shops via windows and grills using an iron rod and a chopper
The accused with the team of the Antop Hill police station
The Antop Hill Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for his alleged involvement in multiple day and night house break-ins across Mumbai. During the operation, the police recovered stolen valuables worth approximately ₹2.5 lakh. Based on their investigation and interrogation, officers suspect the accused may be linked to over 21 cases registered at various police stations across Mumbai and neighbouring cities.
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The accused was traced and arrested following a rigorous stakeout, during which the investigating team disguised themselves in clothes like Pathani suits, sports wear, to blend into the Govandi area.
The first case registered at the Antop Hill Police Station surfaced in March. Following the FIR, the police began to follow leads and began the investigation. It was during court proceedings that the police began to see a pattern with similar robbery cases—one in Sion and another under the jurisdiction of VB Nagar Police Station.
The modus operandi in all three cases matched—use of rod and a chopper to cut window grills and balconies—marking the first breakthrough in the investigation, said Assistant Police Inspector Shivaji Madane of Antop Hill Police Station.
According to Madane, who is also the investigating officer in the case, the team began examining CCTV footage related to all three incidents. Nearly 65 clips were reviewed to zero in on the suspect. With the help of informants, technical investigation, and tip-offs, the police tracked the suspect’s movements to the eastern region of Mumbai, including areas such as Vashi Naka, Chembur, Chunabhatti, Nehru Nagar, Kurla, and Govandi.
The team began conducting frequent checks in the identified areas, but tracking the accused proved challenging as he did not use any digital devices, including a mobile phone, making him untraceable, said Madane.
Eventually, the team received fresh intel about the suspect’s occasional ‘go-to’ locations—Sathe Nagar in Mankhurd, RCF Colony in Vashi Naka, and Nehru Nagar in Kurla.
“We stationed ourselves at these spots in disguise. Since these areas are Muslim-dominated, some of us wore Pathani suits, salwars, and kurtas, while others dressed like sportsmen or regular locals to blend in with the crowd. We even wore chappals instead of our usual police shoes and maintained a low profile, waiting patiently for the suspect to show up. After several days, he finally arrived at Sathe Nagar—where we trapped and arrested him,” said Madane.
Explaining the modus operandi, police officials said that Kamble typically targets closed houses, apartments, and even shops—mostly during the night, with fewer break-ins reported during the day. “Unlike typical break-ins where doors are forced open, Kamble gains entry through windows or balconies. We have seized an iron rod and a chopper from him, which he used to break window grills,” added Madane.
The accused, identified as Nikhil Anil Kamble, does not have a permanent residence, although his mother and brother reside in the Vashi Naka area. He deliberately keeps his distance from them to avoid being traced and changed his SIM card every two weeks for the same reason, said police officials. They added that Kamble often went off the grid by avoiding the use of mobile phones to maintain a low profile.
During interrogation, Kamble revealed that he steals antique items and resells them at a shop in Santacruz. The gold and silver articles he steals are melted down and later sold to various shops, where he poses as a regular customer.
“He has over 21 cases registered against him and is wanted at several police stations. He was previously arrested and jailed but was released on bail in October 2024. Since then, he has continued committing similar offences and remained untraceable by local police stations and even the crime branch,” said a police official.
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