Thiruvananthapuram: In a major breakthrough, the Thiruvananthapuram rural police have arrested a burglar who has minted over Rs 10 crore in a decade allegedly committing around 100 burglaries across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta in the last one year alone.
The man identified as Rameshan, 48 of Meera cottage, Mangalapuram was earlier running a drama troupe called Vedavyasa. His accomplice and driver Murugan, 42 alias Sentil Kumar who resides at Kavithalayam, Kizhuvilla, Chirayankeezhu was also arrested.
Police said that Rameshan struck only when people were present in their house. "He takes a risk and allegedly steals ornaments from sleeping women and children. Often, he engages in physical fights with victims who are men", police said.
The duo used to roam around in the drama troupe van to avoid police checking and parked their vehicle three-four kilometres away from the house they were targeting, police said.
"They strike nearby houses in quick succession even when policemen are around collecting evidence at houses that are close by which they have burgled," police added.
The duo did not use mobile phones to prevent being tracked and used wet cotton swabs to erase fingerprints. It was alleged that Rameshan did not stop his theft spree even on a day when he had got over 100 sovereigns of gold from the first house.
The man allegedly had strange superstitions - always wearing a 13 sovereign gold chain. "Once during a fist fight with a victim that lasted for several minutes, Rameshan lost his gold chain.
However, from the next day he began wearing another 13 sovereign chain. Several people have identified him. On one occasion, he engaged in a fight with his victim for around one hour," said Rural SP Shefeen Ahamed.
