Massive Hyderabad Heist: Burqa-Clad Woman Learns Theft Online, Uses Hand Cutter To Break Locks

News india Massive Hyderabad Heist: Burqa-Clad Woman Learns Theft Online, Uses Hand Cutter To Break Locks

Last Updated:November 01, 2026, 13:55 IST

Police said financial difficulties and her alleged desire to make money easily led her to plan the burglaries.

Uppal police, along with the Central Crime Station (CCS) Uppal team, arrested a 25-year-old woman for her alleged involvement in multiple house burglaries and seized gold and silver ornaments, cash, and an iPhone 17 collectively valued at around Rs 70 lakh.

The accused, identified as Paga Jaya, is a homemaker and lives in New Bharat Nagar, Uppal. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended her near the LB Nagar route bus stop at Uppal X Roads around 8 am on October 31.

The investigation began after Gangam Bhaskar Reddy, 55, a resident of New Bharat Nagar, approached Uppal police station on October 27. In his complaint, he said he had locked his house and left with his family on October 26 to visit Sri Mallanna Swamy Temple in Komuravelli.

On the following day, Reddy was informed by his tenant that the lock on the northern-side entrance had been broken and the door was found open. A subsequent inspection revealed that two cupboards, one in the master bedroom and another in the children’s bedroom, had also been broken into. The missing valuables included around 48 tulas of gold ornaments, 1.5 kg of silver articles and Rs 2 lakh in cash.

Police registered a case (Crime No. 1579/2026) under Sections 331(4) and 305(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation.

During interrogation, Jaya allegedly admitted to her involvement in the burglary and disclosed details of other similar offences. Police suspect her role in five cases registered at Uppal, Medipally, Bhadradri Kothagudem II and Jagathgirigutta police stations.

According to investigators, she allegedly targeted houses after identifying that their occupants were away. She would wear a burqa to conceal her identity and use a hand-cutter machine to break locks on doors and cupboards before taking away jewellery and cash. Police said she allegedly sold or pledged some of the stolen ornaments and spent the proceeds on personal expenses.

Jaya was born and raised in Hamali Colony in Palvancha, Bhadradri Kothagudem district. She reportedly discontinued her first-year BTech course at Anubose College, Kothagudem, due to financial constraints. She shifted to Hyderabad in 2023 and married Gogulothu Sivakumar in 2024.

Police said financial difficulties and her alleged desire to make money easily led her to plan the burglaries. She was also reportedly involved in an earlier house-burglary case within Uppal police station limits.

The case was detected under the supervision of Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B Sumathi, IPS, and the guidance of Uppal DCP (in-charge) B Anuradha, IPS, Crimes DCP K Gunasekhar, IPS, Additional DCP N Venkataramana and Uppal ACP Y Venkat Reddy.

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Aanchal SinhaSub Editor

Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments...Read More

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