Milk retailers in Chennai have been complaining that a large number of milk tubs placed in front of their outlets have been missing. Since the first week of this month, nearly 800 crates from seven locations have been lifted after the dealers have closed down their shops in the night.
P. Manohar, a dealer in Porur, who lost 174 tubs between 11.30 p.m. and 1 a.m. on May 9, says the crate-lifters had turned off the street lights and removed the bulb in front of his shop. “Two other shops in my area also lost crates in a similar fashion. Though we preferred complaints with the police, nothing happened thereafter. I have to replace the tubs to the company as otherwise they will recover costs from our deposit,” he said.
One tub holds 12 packets of milk and a dealer selling 1000 litres will have around 100 tubs everyday. The crates are placed outside the shops since most establishments are small and will have space only for a cooler and some furniture.
“We have provided CCTV footage from nearby cameras to the police. But they are only registering complaints and nothing is moving beyond that. A blue load van is the common element in various CCTV clips that we have provided to the police. We want the police to trace that blue van,” says S. A. Ponnusamy, president, Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Welfare Association.
Dealers say they suspect employees of a milk company since they seem to know the correct spots where the tubs are stacked and the timings of the shops’ closure.
A senior official of the Chennai City Police said that the incidents of theft have stopped after patrolling was intensified. Noting that the last known offence was carried out by a group in Tondiarpet, he said a special team has been formed to apprehend offenders. The special police team has been keeping a watch on scrap dealers to whom these plastic tubs might have been sold. Also, the vendors have been advised to be extra vigilant.
Nearly 800 crates from seven locations have been stolen since the beginning of the month
