The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Scrap materials stolen from abandoned police building

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Scrap materials stolen from abandoned police building

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI, FEB. 21. An abandoned building belonging to the inter-State police wireless office near Foreshore Estate has turned into a hunting ground for petty thieves.

Scrap materials such as copper wire, iron rods and angles were reported stolen from the office of wireless control a couple of days ago.

Police sources here say that on Friday morning a resident of the Police Radio Officers' Quarters on Santhome High Road, saw a stranger emerging out of the building with some materials reportedly through a broken window. On suspicion, the resident questioned him. The latter tried to attack the resident, but was overpowered and handed over to the Foreshore Estate police.

Police sources said that till about a couple of years ago, the wireless office was functioning at the building. After construction of a new building, the office was shifted.

However, materials such as old wireless sets and some spare parts were left behind at the old building itself, which was kept locked.

The arrested person was suspected to be involved in systematic stealing of copper wires, angles and iron rods from the locked office premises.Preliminary investigation revealed that a gang was involved in the operation and they had stolen property to the tune of Rs. 2 lakhs from the abandoned office premises. The gang had also broken open three steel bureaus kept inside the building, sources said.

When contacted the Foreshore Estate police said three persons — Jayaraman, Ravikumar and Ezhumalai of the same area — were arrested.

However, they said that only property worth Rs. 15,000 was stolen from the place. It was not the handiwork of any gang.

The arrested persons were rag-pickers only and they were stated to be involved in petty offences, police said.

A case under sections 380 (theft in a building) and 457 (lurking house-trespass or house breaking by night) of the Indian Penal Code has been filed against them and further investigation is on.

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