If you thought you’ve heard it all, think again! A recent arrest in Bengaluru brought to light one of the most bizarre burglary tactics ever—using pigeons to rob homes. Manjunath, also known as “Parivala Manja,” turned a simple bird-watching hobby into a sophisticated burglary operation, targeting over 50 homes in the city. It’s like something out of a heist movie but with an avian twist!
How Did He Do It?
Manjunath’s method was nothing short of ingenious. He’d wander around multi-story buildings with pigeons, seemingly blending in as an innocent pigeon keeper. His pigeons, who were in on the act (well, sort of), would fly to rooftops or balconies of potential targets. If anyone questioned his presence, he’d use the classic “Oops, my pigeons flew off! Just trying to catch them” excuse. This clever ruse not only masked his real intentions but also made him look harmless.
Once he scoped out an empty house, the real work began. Armed with an iron rod, Manjunath would break in, targeting gold jewelry and cash. His loot was later sold in Hosur, and despite being arrested multiple times, this pigeon burglar managed to resume his craft after every release on bail.
Fun Fact: Manjunath always worked alone, during the day, and his pigeons? Well, they’re probably retired now.
Not The First Weird Heist!
Manjunath’s pigeon-assisted burglaries might sound wild, but the world is full of strange and innovative criminals. Here are some other bizarre stories that will leave you scratching your head:
The “Hole in the Ground” Gang (London, UK)
In 2015, a gang of burglars decided to channel their inner bank robbers by drilling a 50-foot tunnel from an abandoned shop directly into a jewelry store’s vault. The tunnel took three months to dig, and once complete, the gang made off with more than $20 million in jewels. What’s crazier? This was the second time they’d pulled off a tunnel heist!
The “Invisible” Thief (Japan)
In 2020, a man in Japan decided to rob a convenience store while naked—his strategy was that if he wasn’t wearing any clothes, it would be harder for the store’s surveillance cameras to catch him. Spoiler: it didn’t work. The cameras saw everything!
The Miami Goldfish Bandits (USA)
Two Florida men pulled off multiple burglaries by slipping into wealthy homes through pet doors intended for cats or dogs. The twist? They would place goldfish in the homeowners’ pools after robbing them, like some bizarre calling card. It was their downfall, as police eventually traced them through their fishy calling card!
Did You Know?
- In ancient Rome, pigeon mail was one of the earliest methods for sending messages across long distances, with pigeons trained to fly back to their home lofts.
- Fun fact: Some pigeons have been trained to detect art forgeries by recognizing subtle differences in brushstrokes! So, if they can detect fake art, maybe they can detect an empty house?
- Weird burglar technique: In 1960s New York, a burglar dubbed the “Acrobat Bandit” would break into apartment buildings by shimmying down air vents or entering through skylights. His flexibility made him infamous for years.
Lessons Learned
Criminals around the world have displayed incredible creativity, but Manjunath’s pigeon technique has certainly made headlines for its odd charm. The Bengaluru police are now working to retrieve his stolen loot and restore some peace in the neighborhoods. It might be a while before we see another burglar fly in with a strategy quite like his!
So next time you see someone chasing after pigeons, maybe take a closer look. You never know what secrets those birds might be hiding!
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