• Thief with triple-century record caught
    Times of India | 27 August 2025
  • Howrah: Samuel Biswas (63), a most-wanted criminal involved in over 300 thefts and robberies using "magic" and sleight of hand, was arrested by cops from the Jagatballavpur Police Station in Howrah early on Tuesday. Biswas, who told police his father and grandfather were also thieves, has multiple cases against him in Kolkata, Howrah and North 24 Parganas.

    Police had been on the lookout ever since Rs 15,000 was stolen from the house of a retired police officer in Jagatballavpur. They identified Biswas, a resident of Halisahar, as the accused from CCTV footage of the area. A search led cops to his hideout in the Jetia area of North 24 Parganas, from where they arrested him early in the morning.

    An officer from Howrah Rural Police said, "Biswas has a gang in Jetia, North 24 Parganas. They have committed thefts and robberies at various tourist spots in Rajasthan. Biswas was earlier caught stealing in two places. He had been arrested three times. Each time, he was released on bail, after which, he returned to stealing.

    "

    | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataBiswas mainly roamed around banks and ATMs, targeting senior citizens withdrawing money. He and his gang would distract their targets by engaging them in conversations or showing a fake prescription, apparently for his wife's illness, and then snatch the targets' money bags and flee. Biswas was also skilled in sleight of hand tricks, said police. Biswas would also board crowded trains from Halisahar station, pickpocket his way to Sealdah, and then commit thefts and robberies in various parts of Kolkata and Howrah, said police, adding his gang members would scout different locations and provide information to Biswas. During police interrogation, Biswas told police his father and grandfather were also thieves, and that their family had been involved in theft for generations.

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