CHENNAI: Police arrested two school dropouts and a pawnbroker on Friday in connection with a series of chain snatchings and robberies in
Ashok Nagar
and nearby areas. The suspects were traced with the help of footage from a
CCTV
installed by members of a residents' welfare association in Ashok Nagar. Police seized cash and 30 sovereigns of gold jewellery worth 7 lakh from the gang.
Investigations revealed that the thieves, S
Thameem
Ansari, 20, and Arjunan, 20, both of Thousand Lights, acted on the instructions of G Kishore Kumar, 42, who runs a pawnshop in the same area.
Police said Mala, 37, a resident of Ashok Nagar was returning home from a nearby shop on August 25 at around 6am, when Thameem and Arjunan snatched her six sovereign gold chain and fled the scene on a motor bike.
Police circulated CCTV footage of the men among various WhatsApp groups of police personnel to trace the suspects. One of the police teams identified the duo when they were travelling on a bike. On questioning, they confessed to their role in the chain-snatchings and revealed the involvement of the pawnbroker Kishore. Police personnel picked up Kishore who admitted to having masterminded the crimes to earn easy money.
"After committing a theft, they would inform Kishore who would collect the stolen jewels by paying them half the money initially. Since he owns a pawnshop, it was easy for him to sell the jewels," said an investigating officer.
Ashok Nagar assistant commissioner of police G Harikumar said, "Police personnel instructed all the residents' welfare associations and shop keepers to install CCTV cameras on their premises and facing the road to ensure safety and enhance security. More than 120 cameras were installed in Ashok Nagar and nearby areas, which helped us crack the case."
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