Mandya: Mandya district police have cracked 132 theft cases registered since Jan this year, and have recovered stolen property worth more than Rs 5.1 crore. The recovered valuables were handed over to their rightful owners during a property return parade organised under the supervision of SP Shobharani on Wednesday.Speaking to reporters, the SP said, the district police intensified investigations into theft and burglary cases over the past six months, leading to the recovery of 4.1 kg of gold ornaments, 4.4 kg of silver articles, Rs 8 lakh cash, 72 motorcycles and four cars. The total value of the recovered property was estimated at Rs 5,11,87,000.Shobharani said the investigations revealed that the accused employed different methods to commit the crime. Several chain-snatching gangs targeted women travelling alone, while burglary gangs kept a close watch on locked houses before striking. In some cases, thieves broke into temples and escaped with temple bells and cash from donation boxes. Vehicle thefts also accounted for a significant number of solved cases.The SP said one of the most challenging investigations was a robbery reported under Keregodu police limits. The accused, wearing masks, allegedly entered the house of their own relatives and committed the robbery. The case was eventually solved after investigators traced a crucial piece of evidence — a slipper left behind at the scene — which led to the identification and arrest of the accused.