Chennai: Tamil Nadu, which has been witnessing a series of bank heists over the past two months, saw a major burglary over the weekend in which the thieves looted jewels worth Rs 6 crore after striking the Bank of India branch in Tiruvallur district.
Bank officials, who opened the bank on Monday morning were initially unaware as there were no noticeable signs of a break-in having taken place.
The bank lockers were intact and there were no holes in the wall and no signs of doors having being broken open. Bank staff, however, found that the jewellery mortgaged by several customers was missing.
The bank officials subsequently registered a police complaint and informed robbers may have struck only to take the mortgaged jewels, whereas the cash in the bank chest was intact.
Police are now questioning the bank officials and staff including the branch manager and are examining the CCTV footage. The heist had happened in a busy area and seems to have been masterminded with inside information. There are signs of any locks having been opened using keys. Special police teams have been formed to crack the case, sources said.
Footage from CCTV cameras in adjacent areas are also being examined and migrant workers and night watchmen are also being subjected to questioning, police said.
Tension prevailed in the oil mill area after the news spread and customers thronged the bank questioning the staff about the reported theft.
A similar heist had occurred in a nationalised bank at Virugambakkam, which the police cracked within a week while arresting an accused from Nepal.
