CAUGHT: "Super Thief" Devender alias Bunty (middle) in police custody on Saturday.NEW DELHI: Thirty-five-year-old Devender alias Bunty -- nicknamed "Super Thief" for his alleged involvement in over 500 cases of theft and burglary -- has been arrested once again: this time in New Delhi South Extension. He had been released from jail only last October after five years behind bars for his involvement in over 40 cases of burglary.
``After his release, Bunty committed thefts in several cities across the country including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, Baroda and Hyderabad and disposed of the stolen articles such as laptops, expensive wrist watches and diamond jewellery in Indian cities and in Nepal. Unlike earlier, this time round he did not take anybody along and committed the thefts all by himself," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi) Anil Shukla at a press conference here on Saturday.
In the past six months Bunty, who has been known to maintain a lavish lifestyle and prefers to travel by air, also allegedly committed thefts at several five-star hotels in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Baroda and Delhi. ``He became friendly with a foreigner at Shamiyana disco bar in Mumbai's Taj Hotel and made off with a laptop and $ 1,500. He stole 10 diamond-studded gold chains from a shop at Taj Hotel in Hyderabad. At Le Meridien in Delhi, he stole a bracelet and chain from a jewellery shop. In Baroda, he decamped with a camera from Taj Hotel," said Mr. Shukla, adding that Bunty also planned to commit robberies at the bungalows of Bollywood actresses.
To evade arrest, Bunty stopped using his mobile phone after his release from jail and did not speak to his acquaintances and family members on phone. He also tried to don a new identity and acquired a fake passport in Nepal under the name Hari Thapa. He allegedly stole several luxury cars in Delhi's upmarket Greater Kailash, Chittranjan Park, Defence Colony, New Friends Colony, Malviya Nagar and Hauz Khas areas but was eventually arrested on April 6 when he arrived here from Chennai purportedly to commit a theft at South Extension.
``He commits crime out of sheer passion. He lives a lavish life, stays in five-star hotels and keeps luxury cars. He has a penchant for antiques, exquisite showpieces, jewellery, expensive watches and electronic items," said Mr. Shukla.
The police officer said Bunty operates silently and smoothly and on most occasions the victims do not even realise that a theft was being committed at their premises. "Most times, he entered houses by removing the grill of the front door or window using a long screwdriver and lever. He committed thefts between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and avoided houses with security guards and dogs."
He abandoned the car stolen from one place and drove away with a new car at the next place of theft. He avoided being caught on several occasions showing presence of mind and exuding confidence."