Burglars targeted a cooperative bank branch in a village near Ponneri in the early hours of Wednesday but jewellery worth over Rs. 1 crore remained untouched as they couldn’t break open the safe in which it was kept.
However, they made away with jewellery and cash from a few houses in a nearby village.
According to the Ponneri police, the incident took place at the bank branch in Ilavampedu village. The burglars then tried to enter some houses nearby but their efforts ended in vain.
They later went to another village nearby and disconnected the power supply before breaking into two locked houses and fleeing with over 20 sovereigns of gold and Rs. 20,500 in cash.
After residents lodged a complaint, the Ponneri police registered a case and conducted a probe.
Fingerprint experts combed the bank branch for clues and special teams were formed as part of the probe, sources said.
