Mumbai:
When Inspector Dayanand Bandekar stopped a suspicious looking man at a police checkpoint on Tuesday night, he had little idea that the invisible hand of fate had guided the very man who had robbed Rs 75,000 from his house, into his waiting hands.
Bandekar said that on Tuesday night, he was doing his duty at the
Charkop nakabandi when he noticed a man travelling in an auto carrying a hammer and other tools.
Sensing something suspicious, the police officer intercepted the auto and checked the passenger.
When Bandekar asked him about his tools, the man said that he was a labourer who was on his way home after a night shift. Not satisfied with that reply the inspector hauled him to the police station.
"When I began questioning him, the man, identified as Gopal Nashkar (25), broke down and confessed that he was a burglar," said Bandekar.
On further probing, Nashkar revealed that he had broken into three houses in that area, of which, one was located in the police housing quarters behind the police station.
As the interrogation progressed, Bandekar realised that Nashkar was very same thief that had robbed his house two months back, making away with Rs 75,000.
The robbery had taken place in May, when the inspector and his family had gone to his native village.
Bandekar said, "Nashkar knew he was breaking into the police official's house, and chose the location as he was aware of poor security in the police quarters."
Nashkar reportedly also confessed that he had made several rounds of the building, and finally targeted a locked flat, that turned out to be Bandekar's residence.
The inspector has recovered Rs 62,000 from Nashkar and arrested him on charges of housebreaking and theft.