Thief returns gold, says sorry

Dec. 26: Black magic helps at times. A thief, who stole gold and cash from the home of a farmer in Salem district, returned the goodies and left them at the entrance of the same house on the following night fearing ‘black magic’ backlash.
The thief also left behind an emotional note along with the returned goods in which he claimed that he had an ailing wife and two children and that he stole the money as he was desperate for cash.
According to police sources, the unidentified burglar had taken half a sovereign of gold, a little bit of silver and Rs 2,000 from the house of one Muruganandam, 30, of Nathamedu village in Salem district while the farmer was away in his fields.
When Muruganandam returned home the following morning, he found that the front door was open and the valuables were missing.
Neighbours who rushed to his home advised the peasant to perform the ‘pilli sooniyam’ ritual to teach the thief a lesson.
Somehow the news had reached the thief, who was probably one of his neighbours, and he promptly returned the ‘loot’ with the emotional letter.
Police officials at the office of the superintendent of police claimed that they had not registered a case. “We came to know about it but there was no formal complaint,” police said.