Kerala’s most wanted burglar, involved in nearly 200 cases, including the murder case of a policeman last month, is suspecting to be at large in Chennai. A Kerala Police team has launched a hunt for the 49-year-old suspect who is considered armed and dangerous.
Anthony alias Aadu Anthony, a native of Kollam in Kerala, named the ‘techie thief’ by Kerala police, has struck at houses, offices, schools, banks and other establishments and burgled only electronic goods, especially laptops and TVs worth over Rs. 50 lakh from 2002, police said.
The night of June 25, 2012 proved costly for Paripally police of Kollam, when two of their men – sub inspector Joy and constable-cum-driver Maniyampillai spotted a white Omni van parked on the corner of a road while patrolling. “They questioned the man behind the wheels who was in possession of screwdrivers and pliers. Suspicious, they forced him into the patrol vehicle. He then stabbed Maniyampillai with a knife, killing him instantly. He attacked Joy as well and fled in his van,” Jawahar Janardhanan, circle inspector, Paripally Station, told The Hindu in Chennai, after arriving with his team.
Investigators ascertained that the attacker was the notorious burglar Aadu Antony (gets the name from his first theft of a goat) and launched a State-wide hunt for him. “
A tech-savvy thief, Anthony had subscribed to technology magazines which were found following raids at his residence in Kollam after the killing. Investigators learned from one of his girlfriends that Anthony had rented a flat in Madhavaram here. The flat was raided by Kerala Police two weeks ago and stolen electronic items were seized. City police suspect Anthony could be behind the burglary at a house in Pallikaranai on April 13, 2012.
“We have some strong evidence that Anthony is hiding in Chennai with his partner Susie. We have sought the assistance of the city police to apprehend him,” added sub inspector Vijayakumar.
CCTV footages obtained recently from a bank in Thiruvanthapuram, showing Anthony and Susie, has been released in the news media, besides wanted posters of the burglar. Anyone providing information leading to Anthony will be handsomely rewarded, the officers said.
