Burglars broke into a row of shops, a temple and a mechanic’s shed on BB Road in Perambur and an adjoining street early on Wednesday, and escaped with Rs. 50,000.
Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the incident.
Sembium police said the burglaries took place at two pharmacies, two grocery stores and two shops selling fancy items apart from the shed and the temple. The burglars struck after the shops were closed for business on Tuesday night, on the busy stretch.
While money was burgled from these shops, there were attempts to enter a few other shops nearby as well, police said.
A police team on patrol spotted a man, suspected to be one of the burglars, and nabbed him with the assistance of a few local residents. He was later identified as Moorthi (23), a native of Theni district and an interrogation by investigators revealed the role of his accomplice Karthik alias Muttiah in the burglaries. Karthik is on the run.
A total of Rs. 35,000 was recovered from Moorthi, who is a suspect in six other burglary cases as well. He was remanded to custody and sent to Puzhal prison on Wednesday evening, police said.