Police arrest habitual offender in theft case

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 30 : Singjamei police formally arrested a 23-year-old habitual offender today in connection with a theft case.
The habitual offender, Moirangthem Naoba, alias William, s/o Boby from Wangoo Makha Leikai, was produced before the Court after completing his police custody period by Singjamei police.
The arrest was made after obtaining due permission from the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West.
The Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State informed the Court that the habitual offender was caught red-handed stealing a laptop from Langthabal Lep Makha Leikai on December 25 and handed over to Singjamei Police.
Upon his disclosure, two additional Honda Activa mopeds were recovered and seized by the police, the APP said.
What the APP submits
During police interrogation, the offender revealed that he had previously been arrested by Kakching police station for stealing furniture items from a house in Keirak.
After being sent to judicial custody, he was released after 6-7 months. In July 2023, he was arrested for stealing a Honda Activa moped. He was formally arrested by police  and was again remanded into judicial custody.
The accused also disclosed that he was released on bail on December 5, 2025, and began working in welding at Sagolband.
On December 25, 2025, he went to Langthabal Lep Makha Leikai and stole a laptop.
He, however, was caught red-handed.
The APP further stated that, based on the ongoing investigation, it is evident that the accused is a habitual offender involved in multiple vehicle thefts across various police jurisdictions.
From his revelations, it was determined that he had stolen 13-14 vehicles from different areas of Manipur.
The APP requested judicial custody remand to facilitate a smooth investigation.
After hearing the submission of the APP and reviewing the case record, the Court remanded the accused into judicial custody.
Meanwhile, another team of Singjamei police station submitted an application for the formal arrest of the accused in connection with a moped theft case from Liwa Lambi Maibam Leikai on the intervening night of December 24-25.
After reviewing the application, the Court allowed the formal arrest and remanded the accused into police custody til January 5, 2026, for further investigation.