Bengaluru's 'good thief', who stole over Rs 22 lakh gold, says he did this to fund 20 school kids' education

In a revelation that seems lifted from a crime thriller, Bengaluru police were taken by surprise when a 35-year-old serial housebreaker claimed he resorted to theft not for personal enrichment, but to fund the education of underprivileged school and college students, reported TOI.

The accused, identified as Shivu alias Shivarappan from Begur, was recently arrested by the Byadarahalli police along with his accomplices Anil and Vivek. The trio is linked to a series of house break-ins across the city’s west division, with Shivu alone facing charges in at least 11 cases, according to the report.

Reason behind the crimes:
When police finally caught up with Shivu, he said: "I used the money to pay the fees of 20 poor students studying in schools and colleges," Shivu claimed. His ‘Robin Hood-style' justification was met with disbelief, but not outright dismissal.


"We've heard all kinds of stories from arrested thieves, but this one was unusual. He said he was moved by the plight of families in his locality and decided to use the stolen money to pay fees. Shivu claims to have spent around Rs 14 lakh on students' education; we are verifying his claims," an investigating officer told TOI.

What did the police recover?
Police managed to recover around 260 grams of gold stolen by the trio, a portion of which was traced to sales made in Tamil Nadu. However, another Rs 14 lakh, allegedly used by Shivu to fund education and buy vehicles, remains untraced.

According to his statement, Shivu earned around Rs 22 lakh by selling the stolen gold. Apart from funding students, he claimed to have bought two autorickshaws — each costing Rs 4 lakh — for his two aides.

In another twist, Shivu told police he had once considered suicide due to the shame and burden of his criminal lifestyle. "But when I saw many students were struggling to pay fees, I found a new purpose. I decided to help them, even if it meant breaking the law," he allegedly said.

Police, however, are proceeding with caution. "We're not sure if he's telling the truth or trying to earn sympathy," said a senior officer. "Often, thieves come up with emotional narratives once they're caught. We will dig deeper to ascertain the facts. Regardless of his motive, a crime has been committed."