Chennai: The city police have arrested a woman and her sister’s husband on Thursday for allegedly stealing from passengers on buses.
According to police, R. Vijaya, a resident of Nazarathpet near Poonamallee and a flower vendor in Vadapalani had been travelling in MTC bus to Vadapalani on Wednesday morning when a woman carrying a newborn baby, sat next to her.
“The woman was trying to alight from the bus before Vadapalani bus stop in a hurry that raised suspicion in Vijaya’s mind. Immediately Vijaya checked her handbag and found the bag opened,” the police said.
Although Vijaya shouted to stop the woman, she tried to flee the spot with another man. The accused were suspected to be fleeing with Vijaya’s gold chain and '700.
Meanwhile, Vadapalani police, who were on rounds at the spot heard Vijaya’s shouting and stopped the duo before they could escape.
“On searching the woman and her associate, the police found Vijaya’s gold chain and cash. They were brought to Vadapalani police station and interrogated,” the police statement said.
During the questioning, the duo identified themselves as A. Rathi (32) of Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh and her sister’s husband K. Prabhakar (30).
According to the police, their modus operandi is that Rathi stealing on buses and Prabhakar fleeing with the stolen properties. “They have been using a baby to conceal themselves and to get a seat in buses,” the police said.
During interrogation, it came to light that they have been involved in 12 cases in various police stations. The police have also seized 42 sovereigns of gold and Rs 85,000 from them. The police also rescued the baby. They were remanded to judicial custody.
