Chencho Dema

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries that took place in Bajothang town in Wangdue. 

The incidents are believed to have occurred between March 5 and 11.

The suspect robbed a total of four apartments in Bajo town, with the first two incidents reported to the police on March 5, followed by another report on March 8, and the final incident reported on March 11.

Identified as a high school dropout and unemployed resident of Wangdue, the individual employed a unique method, avoiding forced entry by locating hidden keys typically concealled beneath items like carpets and flowerpots, as per Wangdue police.

The police said that the suspect exclusively targeted cash during the burglaries, focusing solely on stealing money.

However, police said that despite their efforts, no money was recovered from the suspect. It was revealed that the suspect had already spent all of the stolen funds.

The exact amount stolen was not disclosed. Differences arose between the reported losses by the victims and the suspect’s expenditures, leading to uncertainty about the total sum taken.

After the case was reported to the police, they swiftly initiated an investigation. Within just two days, the suspect was arrested in Bajo town on March 13. This was possible due to the identification of the suspect’s identity through CCTV footage.

The police stated that the suspect was residing in Thimphu and frequently visited Bajo, although the purpose of these visits remains unknown.

The suspect has been booked for burglary.

As per the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004, a defendant shall be deemed guilty of the offence of burglary if they unlawfully enter or remain in a building, an occupied structure, or a separately secured or occupied portion of a building or construction used as an abode, industry, or business, with or without force, with the intent to commit a crime therein, unless the building, occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied portion of the building or construction is at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or privileged to enter or remain.

The offence is graded as a misdemeanor, and defendants may face a prison term ranging from one year to three years.