Kohima: In a major breakthrough, Kohima Police have successfully solved a series of 11 burglary cases including the high-profile heist at the Kohima Municipal Council that have plagued the city since August 2023. The crime spree culminated in the theft of nearly Rs 1 crore from the KMC Office earlier this month.
Addressing a press conference at the SP office in Kohima on Saturday, Additional SP and PRO Kohima Police, Soriso informed that the accused was identified as one Kekietuo Solo, son of Late Nouleo, a resident of T Khel, Kohima village.
He stated that the arrest was made on Friday night, and the accused has confessed to all 11 incidents, which together amounts to approximately Rs 1.5 crore. The investigation spearheaded by a special Investigation Team (SIT), was led by Soriso.
Following the daring heist at the KMC Office on June 3, 2025, he informed that the team intensified their efforts over the past two and a half weeks, employing a mix of advanced forensic tools and human intelligence to crack the case.
Investigators began tracking the accused after identifying suspicious spending patterns shortly after the KMC theft. The officer informed that the police revisited several older cases to find similar modus operandi.
He said that a crucial lead emerged when the accused was found to have used a Creta vehicle during one of the burglaries. This prompted coordination with the RTO, bringing him under the radar.
While multiple suspects were under scrutiny, SIT officers investigated bank transactions, tracked high-value purchases at major showrooms, and followed up on suspicious land deals flagged through human intelligence.
He revealed that in one instance, a vehicle was purchased with a significant cash payment, further strengthening suspicion. Once connections were established and intelligence inputs confirmed the involvement, the suspect was intercepted and detained for questioning.
Meticulous surveillance and groundwork led the team to the single accused, who, during interrogation, admitted to committing multiple burglaries across the city.
The accused, a 35-year-old, was well-versed in police procedures and was careful not to leave any trail, making the investigation extremely challenging, Soriso revealed. The accused is a driver in the Police Civil Engineering department and has been in service for about 15 years.
Among the key institutions targeted were Baptist College, where Rs 45 lakh was stolen in 2023; D. Khel in Kohima Village, which lost around Rs 22.5 lakh in 2024; Kohima College with a reported theft of Rs 3 lakh in 2024; Entrepreneurs Development Agency, which suffered a loss of over Rs 10.8 lakh in 2025; Other incidents were reported at Oriental College where Rs 35,000 was stolen in 2024; Nexa Showroom near Meriema Junction which lost Rs 38,000 in 2024; Vuto Motors at Kikha Colony which lost Rs 4.5 lakh in 2024; North Treasury Kohima where Rs 1.8 lakh was lost in February, 2025; BOC Mato Complex reporting a loss of Rs 69,000 in May, 2025; and Okusa Toyota at a loss of Rs 2.1 lakh in June, 2025. The largest single incident was the theft of nearly Rs 95 lakh from the KMC Office on June 3, 2025.
The burglaries occurred under the jurisdictions of both the North and South Police Stations of Kohima. Each case involved careful planning, with the accused exploiting security vulnerabilities across a range of institutions, from educational establishments to automobile dealerships and government offices.
Soriso informed that the Kohima Police are now focused on recovering the stolen property, especially the amount taken from the KMC Office. Searches are currently underway based on leads provided during the accused’s confession. Authorities are also investigating whether the accused was involved in additional, previously unreported burglary cases.
Soriso commended the tireless efforts and professionalism of the officers who worked around the clock to bring the accused to justice. He noted that the breakthrough reflects the force’s unwavering resolve to safeguard the public, adding that every available resource such as technology, intelligence, and relentless fieldwork, was used to bring closure to the string of thefts that had troubled the city for nearly two years.
He also expressed gratitude to the citizens of Kohima and various organisations who came forward to assist during the investigation.
The accused, Kekietuo, remains in police custody as legal proceedings move forward.
Around Rs 38 lakh has been recovered so far, along with 33 seized items from the residence of the accused. In a separate seizure, two vehicles and 20 other items used in the commission of the crimes were also confiscated.
Items recovered included torchlights in various sizes, binoculars, tablet, .22 rifle made in Czechoslovakia, battery powered driller and chain saw, pocket knife, drill beat, crow bar, hammer, clamp wrench, multi tool, screwdriver, chisel, hand gloves, lithium batteries, boots, sneakers, sweat pants, wrist watch, car keys, motor bike keys, jacket, mask, sling bag, waist pouch, goggles, and power bank, government service card, ATM card, Aadhaar card, pliers, and so on.
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