The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Burglaries on the rise in district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Burglaries on the rise in district

G. Anand

Police intensify patrolling

15 burglaries reported in the
city this month
Tamil Nadu-based gang responsible
for the crime

Thiruvananthapuram: The district has been witnessing a spurt in burglary cases in recent days. Early on Sunday, thieves entered the house of a doctor at Gowreeshapattom and stole cash and gold ornaments worth nearly Rs.1.25 lakh.

The burglars broke in through the consultation room and entered the bedroom where the doctor’s wife and daughter were sleeping. The doctor was not at home. The burglars searched under the bed and found the suitcase in which the valuables were kept.

They opened the suitcase in the kitchen. Family members became aware of the burglary only when they discovered the ransacked suitcase in the morning. The police suspect that there were at least two burglars. They said the doctor’s wife had not locked the bedroom door before she retired to sleep at 1 a.m.

Burglary at shop

In the early hours of Saturday, burglars broke into a shop at Ulloor and stole eight lap-top computers and 40 mobile phones worth nearly Rs.9 lakh. The police said thieves had pried open the shop’s shuttered doorway, possibly with a portable car lift, without breaking open the locks. The police are also investigating whether the owners had staged the theft for falsely claiming insurance. A resident’s association office-bearer said two-wheeler patrolling had suffered in the medical college area due to shortage of policemen. At least 100 policemen in the city had been sent for Sabarimala duty and for policing the Gujarat Assembly election.

Rs.51,000 stolen

On Friday, burglars broke into four shops at Kudapanakkunu. They stole Rs.51,000 from one of the shops. The trader had left the day’s collection in the shop in an ill-secured cash box.

On Thursday night, burglary attempts were reported from six houses at Pothencode and four at Kattaikonam. The intruders had entered the houses through weakly secured rear doors. The strangers tried to search sleeping women for ornaments. They fled when the women raised an alarm. Similar attempts were reported from five houses in Kilimanoor on Saturday.

City Police Commissioner Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar said there was a spurt in burglaries and burglary attempts. Fifteen burglaries were reported in the city this month. He said a 40-member Tamil Nadu-based gang was responsible for the crimes. He said the burglars were operating in the city in the guise of Sabarimala pilgrims. The police were finding it difficult to check all other-State vehicles and persons entering the city during the season. He said most of the local thieves were in prison. The police have intensified night patrolling.

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