How A Stolen Earbud Helped Bengaluru Police Track A Thief In A Day

Bengaluru police cracked a theft case within 11 hours after using the live location feature of a stolen earbud, turning a routine paying guest burglary into a swift, technology-assisted arrest. The incident

highlights how personal device tracking, when combined with quick police action, can significantly shorten investigation timelines in urban theft cases.

Theft at Paying Guest Accommodation in Lakkasandra

The theft took place on Friday morning at a paying guest accommodation in Lakkasandra Extension. Around 7.40 am, a man entered the premises through an unlocked door and climbed to the second floor. Within a short span of time, he stole several items from one of the rooms before leaving the building.

The stolen items included a laptop, two mobile phones, a dongle, headphones, debit and credit cards, and an Apple AirPod. CCTV footage later showed that the suspect spent barely three minutes inside the room, suggesting a quick and targeted operation.

Victims Discover Theft and Approach Police

The room was occupied by three working professionals: Chandrashekar Reddy, a finance manager; Bharath K, an employee of a private firm; and Bethu Nagamanikanta, a chartered accountant. The residents realised the theft later in the morning and immediately checked their belongings.

While assessing the loss, Reddy noticed that one of his AirPods had been left behind in the room. When he opened the tracking application on his phone, he saw that the second earbud was active and moving, indicating that it was with the thief.

Live Tracking Becomes Key Breakthrough

The live location of the earbud showed movement along Hosur Road. Bharath then filed a formal complaint at the Adugodi police station, informing officers about the theft and the tracking details. Recognising the value of real-time location data, police coordinated with the complainant and began following the signal.

As the location updated through the morning, officers tracked the movement towards Ram Nagar. CCTV footage from surrounding areas and local enquiries helped police narrow down the suspect’s path. The earbud alerts eventually showed that the device was stationary inside a building in the area.

Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Property

Based on the tracking data and local verification, police identified and detained a 24-year-old man named Raghava, a resident of Ramnagar near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Upon questioning, officers recovered all the stolen items from his possession, including the laptop, mobile phones, cards, and headphones taken from the paying guest accommodation.

Further investigation revealed that the accused was also involved in other thefts in the city. Police recovered two additional laptops and two mobile phones linked to a burglary reported in the Madiwala area about a week earlier.

Alleged Role of Accused’s Brother Under Probe

During interrogation, Raghava reportedly told police that his elder brother, Ramesh, who runs a photocopy shop, played a key role in the thefts. According to investigators, the brother allegedly planned the operations, trained Raghava in committing thefts, and handled the stolen goods.

Police said the accused claimed that he was financially dependent on his brother, who supported him and his pregnant wife. Officers are now examining the extent of the brother’s involvement and whether others were part of the operation.

Case Highlights Changing Nature of Investigations

Police officials said the case demonstrates how modern consumer technology, such as real-time device tracking, is increasingly becoming a valuable tool in crime detection. When combined with prompt reporting and coordinated field work, such tools can lead to faster arrests and better recovery of stolen property.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are verifying whether the accused is connected to more theft cases across Bengaluru.