Serial offender arrested after targeting lone women in Karnataka

DAVANAGERE: Police investigations revealed that Naveen, 31, who sustained injuries from police gunfire during an escape attempt, specifically targeted lone women to steal their jewellery. Authorities documented 54 cases against him across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Naveen is a native of P Gollarahalli in Tumkur district. He served four years in prison with three convictions and faces 34 cases. District superintendent of police Uma Prashant stated at a press conference that following his release in 2023, he resumed his criminal activities.
"His criminal pattern involved assaulting solitary women to steal their jewellery in residential areas, secluded locations, fields, and gardens.
He was convicted for the rape and murder of a 50-year-old woman in Chitradurga's Chitrahalli police jurisdiction and an assault on a woman in Madhugiri station area. His apprehension resolved 11 cases across Chitradurga and Davanagere districts," shared SP Uma.
She further said his criminal journey began when he was studying in Class 10 with vehicle theft. Following imprisonment in 2016 for chain-snatching in Tumakuru city, he expanded his activities to include robbery, murder, vehicle theft, and temple burglaries.
He was also involved in crimes reported in Andhra Pradesh, where he robbed a woman at a farmhouse. "He has done criminal activities at Ujire and Mangaluru temples, before returning to Tiptur taluk. In Hiriyur taluk's Patrehalli, he targeted women tending cattle. At Srirampura police station jurisdiction in Hosadurga taluk, he assaulted an elderly woman grazing cows, stealing her earrings," SP Uma Prashant stated.