Ex-gardener held for Rs 1 crore burglary in Pamposh Enclave
Delhi Police’s South District cracked a Rs 1 crore burglary case within 48 hours of the complaint, arresting a 28-year-old habitual offender.
The accused had been using his knowledge of residential colonies, gained during years of working as a gardener, to identify and target locked homes in upscale South Delhi neighbourhoods.
The accused, Sanwara Gujjar alias Sunil, son of Harlal, a resident of Madanpur Khadar, originally from Tonk district in Rajasthan, was arrested on May 22 following a raid by a joint team of Special Staff, South District, and Greater Kailash police station.
He was also an absconder in a separate 2020 case, with non-bailable warrants issued against him by a court as recently as April 10, 2026.
DCP South District Anant Mittal, IPS, confirmed the case was cracked through a combination of technical surveillance, local intelligence, and extensive CCTV analysis.
“More than 250 CCTV cameras were scanned, and the movement of the accused was tracked over nearly 10 kilometres, which proved crucial in identifying the offender,” Mittal said.
The burglary was reported on May 20 at Pamposh Enclave under the jurisdiction of Greater Kailash police station.
The complainant returned home at night to find the locks broken and the house ransacked. Gold, diamond, and silver jewellery worth approximately `1 crore and cash of Rs 6.5 lakh had been stolen. An FIR was registered, and an investigation was launched immediately.
Two teams were constituted on the same night. Within 48 hours, on May 22, the teams acted on specific intelligence and arrested Sanwara Gujjar. During interrogation, he confessed and led the police to the stolen goods.
The recoveries were significant. A diamond watch worth Rs 12 lakh, a diamond solitaire ring, earrings, a Tag Heuer watch worth Rs 3 lakh, and a moon bracelet were among the jewellery retrieved. Cash of Rs 3.57 lakh was also recovered.
The remaining Rs 2.93 lakh of the stolen cash has not been accounted for, suggesting some money was spent or concealed before the arrest. The modus operandi speaks to a methodical criminal operation. Sanwara would conduct reconnaissance of residential colonies during daytime hours, specifically identifying homes that remained locked through the day, indicating the occupants were out.
He would then carry out the break-in using house-breaking tools and immediately shift hideouts afterwards. The stolen jewellery was moved quickly through local contacts to prevent recovery.
His background as a gardener who had worked inside residential homes in similar colonies gave him an advantage in identifying targets and understanding the routines of affluent households in South Delhi.
Sanwara is a school dropout with one prior case registered against him at the New Friends Colony police station in 2020.
He had been absconding in that case and was a wanted accused at the time of this arrest. South District Police said it remains committed to zero tolerance against organised burglary and habitual property offenders.
