THANE: The Thane Crime Branch Unit-3 has arrested two habitual offenders, solving as many as 52 cases across Maharashtra and Karnataka. Police recovered stolen gold jewellery worth Rs 30.06 lakh from the accused.The arrests followed a parallel probe into a surge in chain-snatching incidents in Thane city and nearby areas. Acting on specific intelligence, the Crime Branch team laid a trap in the Ambivli area and apprehended the suspects.The accused were identified as Kasim Garibshaha Irani (38), a native of Irani Vasti in Shrirampur (Ahilyanagar) and currently residing in Patilnagar, Ambivli, and Mukhtar Sheru Husain, also known as Irani (32), a resident of Patil Chawl, Ambivli, Kalyan.During interrogation, the duo allegedly confessed to a series of chain snatchings and trickery-based thefts targeting men and women. Investigators said their crime trail spanned Thane city, Kalyan, Ambernath, Badlapur, Bhiwandi, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and parts of Karnataka.The accused were initially booked at Kolsewadi police station under sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Custodial interrogation led to the recovery of a large haul of gold ornaments valued at over Rs 30 lakh.Cases linked to the duo were registered at multiple police stations, including Kolsewadi (Kalyan), Hill Line (Ulhasnagar), Badlapur (East and West), Ambernath, Kalwa, Kapurbawdi, and Mahatma Phule Chowk, with some offences reported as recently as late 2025.Officials added that both accused have extensive criminal records. One is wanted in at least 20 cases, while the other has 14 cases registered against him at various police stations.Further investigation is being carried out by Crime Branch Unit-3, Kalyan, to trace possible accomplices and recover additional stolen property.
