Chennai: Police have launched a hunt for unidentified suspects who allegedly broke into a jewellery showroom in Thirumangalam and decamped with over 10 kg of gold on Monday night.
The heist, police said, is similar to the Kolathur heist in November last year. A pursuit of suspects in the case led city police to Rajasthan wherein inspector S, Periyapandian was killed, supposedly due to an accidental fire by another police inspector, part of the special group. In the Kolathur incident, burglars had rented a portion above the jewellery shop and drilled a hole through the first floor to gain access.
In Monday’s incident, burglars had gained entry through the terrace of the building which housed the jewellery shop on second avenue road in Anna Nagar (west). “They had cut off the connection to all CCTV cameras and also escaped with the hard disc containing CCTV footage before fleeing the place,” a police officer said.
Preliminary investigations have suggested that the gang entered through the adjacent building and jumped onto the jewellery shop terrace and gained entry. “It is not clear how many persons were part of the burglary,” a police officer said.
Police said that the jewellery store - AKS jewellery - was run by brothers- Ayyappan and Siva Sankaran for the past five years in the area. Ayyapan resides only a few blocks away from his store.
Police sources said that the building had only feeble security arrangements in place for a jewellery showroom. Special teams have been formed to trace the suspects. Police suspect the perpetrators to be known to the owners. It is to be noted that about a month ago, income tax officials had conducted search and survey at the same jewellery store after which it was shut for a few days.
Thirumangalam police have registered a case and are investigating.
