The Mangalam Police have arrested six persons and seized from their possession ₹4.20 lakh.
The names of the arrested were given as S. Santhosh, a resident of Villianur; A. Devan, S. Vinayagam, J. Iyyappan, all three from Karikkalampakkam; S. Arivu of Pakkam-Road in Villupuram and R. Silambarasaran of Thokkanampakkam in Cuddalore.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rahool Alwal told reporters on Monday that the six were involved in three robbery cases in Villianur Circle.
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The Mangalam police on October 24 had received a complaint of robbery.
A person was waylaid by a gang near the Pangur Lake and was robbed at knife point of about ₹ 3 lakh.
Interrogation of the accused revealed that they had also been involved in two other robbery cases in the area.
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The confession of the accused persons led to the recovery of ₹4.20 lakh, three motorbikes and a cellphone, he said.
Agents targeted
Mr. Alwal said the complainants in the cases were agents working in private finance companies.
The agents used to place advertisements in local television channels that they would redeem the mortgaged jewellery of individuals by paying the loan amount along with interest to the company. After redeeming the mortgaged jewellery, the accused would dispose of the ornaments at a higher price before paying the amount to the individuals concerned.
They would also collect interest from the owners, Mr. Alwal added.
On seeing the advertisements, two of the accused Arivu and Vinayagam hatched a plot to rob the agents.
They both approached the agents and asked them come to a particular spot with the money to redeem the mortgaged ornaments and collect the commission amount.
When the agents went, the accused brandished a knife and took away the money, the Mr. Alwal added.