The Tirumala police on Saturday took a 12-member gang into custody on the charges of burglary and chain snatching and recovered about 280 grams of gold and five mobile phones from them.
Briefing the media, inspector Tulasiram (crime wing) said the gang which had provided sleepless nights to the police for the past one year was arrested with the coordinated efforts of the crime and the law and order personnel. The gang stayed on the outskirts of the town to avoid arrest.
An old offender, Rattaiah of CS Puram in Prakasam district, who is absconding, operated the gang by recruiting the members with a criminal track record.
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The members of the gang preyed on gullible pilgrims at crowded areas like Kalyanakatta, queue lines and the Central reception office where they are forced to spend a lot of time in waiting. After obtaining the details of their stay and time of the darshan (in the course of developing intimacy with them) they resorted to burglary at the specified cottages.
The police are also on the look out for another four members of the gang.