For a thief, there's nothing like a car. In addition to fetching a good price, either as a whole or when broken down into components, in the grey market, a car is also optimum for a fast getaway.
It was perhaps these factors that led S. Venketaraman to take up the stealing of SUVs as a habit.
The notorious car-thief, who has over a dozen cases registered against him, was again nabbed on Sunday as he attempted to unlock a Tata Sumo on West Matha Street in Royapuram in north Chennai.
The vehicle belonged to S. Rajasekar, a manager in a private firm in Kodambakkam, who was in for a rude shock when he stepped out of his house.
Residents join chase
He alerted his neighbours and together, they chased and nabbed the 29-year-old and then, alerted the Royapuram police. A couple of residents also beat up Venketaraman before the police reached the spot. A case of attempted theft under section 379 of IPC was filed by the Royapuram police. It carries a maximum imprisonment of three years.
He was sent to the central prison at Puzhal
Police officers said Venketaraman was a resident of Vishakhapatnam and a school drop-out who moved to Chennai in 2009 to make a living.
After doing a series of odd jobs, he began working as a cleaner in a hotel in Kodambakkam.
According to police, it was there that he learned driving and also got in touch with car mechanics, who used to come to the hotel regularly.
Over time, he became adept at the mechanics of cars. As the job of a cleaner fetched little money, he began stealing cars.
“He used to help car owners open the doors of their vehicles when they lost their keys. This helped him gain confidence. He also got in touch with some traders who bought car components,” said a police officer.
His first successful target was a Tata Sumo, which he stole from Koillidam near Srikali in southern Tamil Nadu, in 2009.
He then set out on a spree of robberies across the State focussing on SUVs, including one at Tirutani in Tiruvallur district near Chennai in 2010.
The latest car he stolen was a Toyota Innova in front of a house at Royapettah in December, 2012. He was subsequently nabbed by the police.
He was released from Puzhal prison on bail only a fortnight ago but again tried his luck.
