India, Sept. 29 -- The Vishrambaug police have arrested five suspected members of a gang allegedly involved in stealing gold ornaments, mangalsutras, purses and mobile phones by taking advantage of crowds during the Ganesh festival and immersion procession.

The arrests, made from different locations on Sunday, led to the detection of 22 theft cases and recovery of valuables worth around Rs.35 lakh, police said on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Santosh Kanhu Pawar of Ahilyanagar, Jalindar Shyerao Waghmare of Beed, Sushant Shivaji Gaikwad of Latur, Gaffar Maula Sheikh of Hyderabad and Sheikh Saibaj Sheikh Shafik of Malegaon in Nashik.

Krushikesh Rawale, deputy commissioner of police (zone I), said, "Two modules of a gang inv...