The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Cell phone showrooms, soft targets of burglars

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Saturday, Mar 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Cell phone showrooms, soft targets of burglars

Recent spate of burglaries calls for enhanced policing, says L. Srikrishna

For burglars, mobile phone showrooms in various parts of the city appear to be soft targets.

In the last 15-25 days, five shop owners in Anna Nagar, Santhome, Ekattuthaangal, Washermenpet and Thirumangalam complained of burglary at their showrooms.

Apart from mobile phones, the burglars had taken away recharge coupons worth several thousands, accessories such as battery chargers and spare parts, preliminary investigations suggested. The total property lost may be a little over Rs.15 lakh.

A senior police officer who inspected a showroom in Anna Nagar after the crime says the burglars gained entry from the rear side of the shop after removing window grills and decamped with about 70 expensive handsets. The offence would have been committed by more than two persons and the involvement of a gang has not been ruled out.

According to an investigating officer in Anna Nagar, inquiries with some known suspects in this connection gave vital clues about the burglars: they belonged to Bihar and Jharkhand.

Special teams

Commissioner of Police G. Nanchil Kumaran has formed special teams to expedite the burglary cases, says the officer.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police, part of the investigating team, says many builders in the city are employing youngsters from north India. “We are in the process of holding meetings with major builders who would be directed to maintain records with the addresses of workers with their photographs affixed on it”, according to a senior officer.

Many young people from the northern parts of the country come here in search of jobs at construction sites. But, when some of them do not get work, they indulge in such crimes and escape with the stolen goods. Though many complainants evince little interest in solving the cases since they had insured their properties, the police will nab the gang, adds the senior officer.

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