In a daring incident at Balakumaran Nagar in Kolathur, burglars struck at the house of a senior State government official and allegedly decamped with gold jewellery weighing over 50 sovereigns.
Kolathur police have registered a case of burglary and has recorded a loss of 50 sovereigns in the incident. Two special teams have been formed to investigate, sources added.
Front door broken
The incident came to light on Saturday afternoon after the victim's friend spotted the front door of the house broken.
The burglary took place at the ground floor residence of R. Vaidyalingam (58), an officer in the rank of Joint Secretary in the State Public Department, when he was away in Tenkasi on Tuesday for his wife's death anniversary.
He was scheduled to return on Sunday after the ceremony. “Around 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, I passed by Vaidyalingam's house and found the front door broken. An almirah and a safe inside were ransacked.
I telephoned him immediately and he rushed home to find gold jewellery missing,” said A. Thangamani (56), who identified himself as a realtor and a friend of the victim.
The burglars removed a small section of wood from the side of the main door in order to open the lock with ease and gained entry into the house.
The theft is suspected to have occurred early on Saturday after a police team left after patrol in the area around 2.30 a.m., Mr. Thangamani added.
However, tenants residing on the top floor of the house said they didn't hear or find anything suspicious.
Following a complaint lodged by Mr. Vaidyalingam, a police team from Kolathur and senior police officials carried out investigations on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Fingerprint experts combed the house for clues, police sources said.
