By Sumesh Rajan | December 16, 2025
Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: Bengaluru Police cracked a theft case within just 11 hours after tracking the live location of a stolen Apple AirPod, leading to the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Ram Nagar near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The swift breakthrough highlights how personal device tracking, combined with prompt police action, can significantly shorten investigation timelines in urban theft cases.
The theft occurred early Friday December 12 morning at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Lakkasandra Extension. According to police, the accused entered the premises through an unlocked door around 7.40 am and climbed to the second floor, where he quietly walked into a room occupied by three working professionals.
The victims were identified as Chandrashekar Reddy K (32), a finance manager; Bharath K (28), an employee at a private firm; and Bethu Nagamanikanta (29), a chartered accountant. CCTV footage later revealed that the accused spent barely three minutes inside the room before fleeing with stolen items.
Theft Goes Unnoticed Initially
Police said Reddy had left for the gym at around 6.45 am, closing the door but failing to latch it as Bharath was still asleep inside. Due to strong winds, the door reportedly swung open, allowing the accused to enter unnoticed.
When Bharath woke up later, he realised that several items were missing, including a laptop, two mobile phones, a dongle, headphones, debit and credit cards, and an Apple AirPod. The residents initially suspected someone from within the PG and reviewed CCTV footage, which showed an unfamiliar man entering the room.
Live Tracking Leads to Breakthrough
The turning point came when Reddy realised that one AirPod earbud had been left behind in the room, while the other was with the thief. Using Apple’s tracking feature, he noticed that the stolen earbud was active and moving. The live location showed it travelling along Hosur Road.
Bharath lodged a formal complaint at the Adugodi police station, sharing the real-time tracking details. Acting swiftly, police formed a special team and coordinated with Reddy, who continued receiving location alerts throughout the day.
By around 4 pm, the signal led officers to Ram Nagar. Unsure whether the accused still possessed the earbud or had sold the stolen items, police split into teams and conducted local enquiries, showing CCTV images to residents. A local resident identified the suspect as Raghava, a tenant in the area.
Arrest and Recovery
Police confirmed that the AirPod was still inside the building. Later that evening, when Raghava returned home with his pregnant wife, he was detained. Officers informed his wife about the arrest before bringing him to Bengaluru for questioning.
During interrogation, police recovered all the stolen items from the PG accommodation, along with two additional laptops and two mobile phones linked to another theft reported in the Madiwala area a week earlier.
Brother’s Role Under Investigation
The accused allegedly told police that his elder brother, Ramesh, who runs a photocopy shop, had trained him to commit thefts and collected stolen goods once or twice a month for resale. Police suspect that others may also have been trained in a similar manner and are probing the brother’s role in the crimes.
Raghava, a native of Ambur in Tirupathur district, reportedly told police that mounting debts pushed him and his brother into criminal activity. His father works as a government bus driver, and Raghava himself is employed at a home appliances and electronics showroom in Chennai.
Police said the case clearly demonstrates how technology, when used promptly and in coordination with law enforcement, can play a crucial role in solving crimes swiftly.
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