Man involved in 150 burglaries since 1992 back in police custody

Man involved in 150 burglaries since 1992 back in custody again

A notorious burglar with a history spanning over three decades with nearly 150 cases was once again nabbed by Hyderabad police.

Mohammed Saleem, 52, also known as Suniel Shetty or Shetty Saleem in police and crime circles, was apprehended by the Commissioner’s Task Force, South-East Zone Team, in coordination with Bandlaguda Police. Gold and silver ornaments worth approximately ₹12.50 lakh were recovered from him.

Saleem, an ardent fan of Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, once attempted to meet him in Mumbai and earned the moniker. His journey into crime began in 1991 when, at the age of 16, he stole money from his father’s provisions store to take his then-girlfriend out.

“Over the years, he evolved into one of Hyderabad’s most notorious burglars. Arrested more than 22 times, he frequently assumes the roles of a painter or vegetable vendor to scout residential areas, conducting recce before breaking into homes in the early hours,” said the police.

Despite being arrested in July 2024 and sent to judicial remand, he resumed his criminal activities after securing bail in December 2024. He was wanted in connection with three recent house burglaries in Hyderabad and Rachakonda Commissionerates.

Acting on a tip-off, the police tracked him down and apprehended him near Chandrayangutta Flyover. During interrogation, he confessed to using the same modus operandi, leading to the recovery of 83 grams of gold ornaments and 600 grams of silver ornaments from his possession.

“Saleem’s expertise in burglary was honed during his time in Musheerabad Jail, where he befriended fellow burglars and learned techniques to break locks. Preferring middle-class or lower-middle-class neighbourhoods, he typically strikes between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. During the day, he spends time at home playing ludo and cricket on his smartphone,” said the police.