A 29-year-old man was arrested on Saturday in connection with a house break-in and theft of gold jewellery worth Rs8 lakh reported near Pallipalayam in Namakkal district on December 26.
The accused has been identified as Saran, a native of Cheranmadevi in Tirunelveli district. Police said he is a history-sheeter with over 30 theft cases registered against him
Saran was apprehended by night patrol police personnel after he behaved suspiciously upon noticing them. During questioning, police established his involvement in the burglary at the residence of M Vadivel (45) of SPB Colony near Pallipalayam.
Vadivel had lodged a complaint stating that the lock on his front door had been broken and 6.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery were stolen from his house. Following the complaint, Pallipalayam police registered a case and a team led by DSP Gautham and Inspector Ranjith Kumar inspected the scene, collected evidence, and launched an investigation.
During the inquiry, police discovered that Saran’s wife had separated from him and was staying in SPB Colony. Investigators revealed that after being released on bail, Saran went in search of his estranged wife. Noticing a locked house in the area, he allegedly committed the theft.
“After locating his wife, Saran gifted the stolen gold to her,” an investigating officer said. The jewellery was later melted by his wife, but police managed to recover the melted gold during the investigation.
Saran was produced before a court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody at the Salem Central Prison on Sunday.
