A robber broke open the house of M. Govindaraj in Raghavendra Nagar Extension near Ponmeni here and snatched five-sovereign gold chain from his wife when the inmates were fast asleep in the wee hours of Tuesday.
When Govindaraj tried to nab the fleeing culprit, two more persons, who were waiting outside the house, attempted to attack him with bricks. However, he was not hurt.
Employed in a private company, Mr. Govindaraj said that he was awoken from sleep by the alarm raised by his wife at around 2 a.m. when the culprit had cut the gold chain.
While the couple were sleeping in the bedroom, their son, studying Plus Two, was in the adjacent room in the house on the first floor.
By the time, Mr. Govindaraj could realise what was happening, the culprit took to heels. The robber had gained access to the locked house by breaking open the front wooden door.
As Mr. Govindaraj climbed down the staircase, chasing the culprit, he was shocked to see two more persons waiting outside the house. All the three were sporting a vest and half trousers, he said.
The police said that probably, the duo had waited outside the house keeping a watch on the movement of people in the street.
Deputy Commissioner of Police K. Ferozekhan Abdullah inspected the scene of crime. The S.S. Colony police are investigating.
