Man Arrested for Stealing from Temple Donation Boxes

The Bhayandar police's crime detection unit has successfully apprehended a notorious thief, Shah Noor Akhtar Khan, 23, who has been targeting temples to steal money from donation boxes. The arrest follows a recent incident where Khan broke into a Jain temple in Bhayandar (west) and made off with the cash collected in the donation box. Utilizing electronic surveillance, the crime detection team traced Khan's mobile number after visiting the temple. By analyzing his call detail records and collaborating with a telecom company, they obtained his photograph, which facilitated the activation of their informer network. This led to a tip-off that enabled the police to set a trap and capture Khan in Ambernath on Saturday. Khan is identified as a serial offender, having previously targeted multiple temples in the region, including one in Bhayandar in 2022. The police have registered an offense against him under sections 457 (house break-in by night) and 380 (theft). Following his arrest, Khan was presented before the district sessions court in Thane, where he was remanded to judicial custody. Assistant Police Inspector Manikrao Kature is leading the ongoing investigation into Khan's criminal activities, as authorities work to uncover the full extent of his thefts and ensure justice for the affected temples.