The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Five-member gang held for thefts

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Five-member gang held for thefts

Staff Reporter

97 motorbike thefts, 40 chain snatchings solved: Commissioner

Stolen motorbikes sold for less than Rs.3,000
Gold ornaments pawned in private banks in the district

Thiruvananthapuram: The city police have arrested a five-member gang suspected to be responsible for as many as 47 chain snatchings and 97 two-wheeler thefts in the district.

City Police Commissioner Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar identified the suspects as “Motta” Nazir, 32, of Nemom, “Punch” Nawaz, 32, of Palode, Dhanush alias “Vindhyan,” 25, of Malayankeezhu, Sayeed Ali, 28, of Poonthura and Lemin, 25, of Nemom.

He said the police were in the process of recovering gold ornaments worth Rs.8 lakh and motoribkes valued at over Rs.30 lakh.

Attack on woman

Five important cases, including an attack on a woman running an ice-cream parlour at Vellayambalam last year, have been traced to Dhanush, the youngest member of the gang. The police said Dhanush had brutally assaulted the woman for not serving him ice cream on “time.”

Officials said the gang sold stolen motorbikes for less than Rs.3,000 to spirit smugglers and criminal gangs in Attingal (nearly 30 motorbikes) and Balaramapuram (12 two wheelers).

Scrap dealers

The recipients of stolen motorbikes also include some scrap dealers in Chalai market. The police said “Punch” Nazeer’s wife was chiefly responsible for the disposal of gold ornaments stolen by the gang. She has pawned most of the loot in private banks in the district, an official said. The Commissioner said the police will prosecute the recipients of stolen property.

Trained mechanic

Another official said that Dhanush, a trained mechanic, was chiefly responsible for the two-wheeler thefts. Most of the thefts were from Museum area.

The gang had also waylaid a group of five women near PTP Nagar last year. Assistant Commissioner (Shanghumugham) Reghunath and Circle Inspector (Medical College) V. Suresh Kumar arrested the suspects.

Security audit of banks

The police have started a security audit of banks and financial institutions in the city in the wake of the burglary at a bank in Kannur district recently.

The Commissioner said he chaired a meeting of policemen and bank managers recently.

The security at several private banks and financial institutions in the city was found to be wanting.

The Commissioner said he has asked banks to install electronic anti-theft systems, video surveillance equipment and also ensure round the clock presence of armed security men.

Some of the banks need to shift their premises for better security. Circle Inspectors have been asked to audit the security of financial institutions in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

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