Kollam: The villagers of coastal Eravipuram are having sleepless nights due to unabated theft attempts and sexual assaults towards women for the last few weeks. The residents of Valathunkal here have now ganged up to nab the thief or thieves who have become a menace to the residents.
There were attacks on consecutive days especially on houses where women live alone. The police also could not yet trace the ‘invisible thief’ who hides behind shadows of night.
Describing the modus operandi, the local residents said the person or persons behind the crime targets houses in which women live alone. During early night hours, the thief knocks the door signalling them an “it’s me” gesture veiled as if the person is familiar to the family.
If the women are reluctant to open the door, the thief barges into the house by breaking the door. The women are also sexually harassed before getting looted.
There were over 12 incidents at Valathu-nkal, Mayyanad, Erav-ipuram, Koottikkada, and Pallimukku areas during the past 10 days despite the local residents being prepared to nab the thief.
However, the robbery and attack continues unabated, the residents allege.
The residents also suspect the involvement of a youth from nearby area, who is also a drug addict, behind the attacks. Eravipuram police had recovered CCTV visuals that showed the suspect walking along the Valathunkal area, but is yet to nab the culprit. Police including shadow police team focuses on drug mafia to find possible hints into the crime series.
