In two incidents in rural Madurai, burglars decamped with about 38 sovereigns of jewels, Rs 28,000 and two pairs of anklets, in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Ms Uma Rani, 48, a widow residing at MRK nagar, Vandiyur, had gone to her father’s house at adjacent Balaji nagar Monday night.

When she returned home Tuesday around 6.40 am, she found the grill gate open and the house lock broken. “She found about 15 sovereigns of jewels and Rs 10,000 cash missing from the almirah,” said her father Shanmuga Rajan.

In a similar case, Mr Veeragavan of Krishna nagar, Vandiyur, who had gone with his family to a temple for the overnight Sivarathri pooja, found his house burgled when he returned Tuesday around 6 am. He has reported a theft of 23 sovereigns of jewels, Rs 18,000 in cash and two pairs of anklets, the police said.

The Karupayurani police have registered two cases and begun investigations. “We have got some clues and we will be working on them.

A special team has been constituted to track the culprits,” said Madurai superintendent of police Asra Garg. It is suspected that the same gang committed the burglary at both houses.

In the wake of the audacious burglary at Tirupur Tuesday morning, concerns have arisen about the safety mechanisms in place at the 2,000-odd jewellery shops in Madurai.

“The issue (of safety) crops up on and of. It’s time we got our act together,” said Mr M Balasubramanian, president, bullion merchants’ association.