An unidentified gang robbed the family of a senior officer working in the Salem Steel Plant (SSP) here at knife point and fled the house after forcefully taking the official's car in the early hours of Sunday.
Police said that the four-member gang entered the premises of a finance firm, functioning on the ground floor of the house of Ganesamurthy, working in the steel plant as a senior officer.
After hacking a worker, Rajesh (28), with a sickle they went up to the first floor where Ganesamurthy and his family are residing.
Posing as policemen they gained entry into the house and after threatening the family members, they took away Rs. 10,000 in cash and other valuables and snatched the gold chain from his wife's neck.
Later, they grabbed the car's key and sped away in the vehicle, which was found abandoned later in the evening at a desolate place in the city.
Deputy Commissioners of Police Y John Nicholson and Ravindran and other senior officers visited the house and held an enquiry. Special teams were formed to nab the culprits.