Police on Thursday arrested six persons in connection with a major theft at a private firm and recovered Rs.13 lakh worth valuables including cash and gold coins.
Presenting the arrested accused before media persons here, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) V.J. Chandran said all the accused were arrested within three days of lodging complaint.
According to police, on September 27 at 10.15 a.m., Zaitunby (37) of II cross, Brindhavan Nagar, came to Grand Bazaar Police Station and lodged a complaint that between September 18 and 19, some unknown persons committed a theft of Rs. 9 lakh in cash, kept in the lockers at M.A. Gold Forex Private Limited and M.A. Beauty Collections, Anna Salai.
Based on her complaint, the police registered a criminal case and launched an investigation. The investigation revealed that 26 gold coins weighing 8 grams each were also stolen from the locker.
Dr. Chandran said the CCTV footages at the shop and surrounding places were scrutinised and the activities of employees and former employees were monitored. On September 30, one ex-employee Jothimurugan of Orleanpet was interrogated over his suspicious activities. During the interrogation, he confessed that while he was working at that shop, he made duplicate keys of the locker without knowledge of the owner and using the same with his five accomplices committed thefts of gold coins and cash from the shop.
Along with Jothimurugan, Tamizh, Illakiyarasan, Stephenraj, Sankar alias Sivasankaran and Karthik were identified as the accused who were arrested. Besides Jothimurugan, two others- Tamizh and Illakiyarasan- are also former employees of the shop.
In all, Rs. 7.90 lakh in cash, 23 gold coins, one gold chain and two cell phones, totally worth around Rs.13 lakh were recovered from the accused.
To a question over the progress of the investigation in connection with murder of a middle- aged woman at Muthialpet, Dr. Chandran said, “We have certain clues and soon will zero in on the culprits.”