Four men steal gadgets, one returns to confess and all are nabbed

Chennai: Four men who broke into a lathe workshop in Chinmaya Nagar and stole a television set and other gadgets were tied to a pole by shop employees and local residents. They were later handed over to the police. According to police, the gang members—identified as Sivalingeswaran, 37, of Madurai, Ravi, 40, of Ariyalur, Arul, 30, of Arakkonam, and Thameem Ansari, 27—broke the lock of a lathe workshop in Chinmaya Nagar near Koyambedu on Monday night. They stole an AC unit, a TV, and other items, which they later sold at a scrap shop in the neighbourhood. The police said the four used the money from the sale to buy alcohol and spent the night drinking.On Tuesday morning, Thameem Ansari went back to the workshop to confess and requested forgiveness. The owner initially assumed he was drunk, but upon checking inside the shop, realized that the AC and TV were missing. The employees and nearby residents caught hold of Ansari and, based on information he provided, rounded up the other three accomplices hiding nearby. The group was tied to a pole and beaten up before being handed over to the Koyambedu police. A case was registered. Further investigation is underway.