Chennai: Attention diversion ‘specialist’ arrested

S. Rama Devi, 60, a resident of Ratna Nagar in Virugambakkam, was going home after taking the pledged jewellery from the bank on December 19 when conman C. Benjamin noticed her. She was trying to start her two-wheeler when he sprayed some chemicals on her back triggering itching. While one of his companions suggested her to immediately wash it with water, she went to nearby shop to buy water packet. On return she found her bag containing cash Rs 1 lakh and jewellery

Rs 10 lakh missing.

Police traced and arrested Benjamin, a resident of Rajamangalam in Chennai, near the Andhra Bank in Virugambakkam when he was waiting to execute the same modus operandi with another possible victim.

When questioned Benjamin reportedly confessed the crime and informed the police that he did it with the help of three associates Appu, Vimal and Karikalan, all residents of Rajamangalam.

Police seized the stolen diamond necklace, two diamond rings and three pairs of diamond ear rings, apart from the cash Rs 1 lakh from the suspect.

The Virugambakkam police registered a case and arrested Benjamin. He was remanded to judicial custody after being produced before a magistrate court in the city on Saturday. Police have also

launched a hunt for the absconded accomplices of Benjamin.

Virugambakkam police had collected the CCTV footage recorded outside the bank premises. The suspect’s picture was clearly captured by the camera and it helped the investigators to nab him on Friday.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Benjamin was also involved in another similar theft case at Alapakkam near Maduravoyal on November 11 last month. He and his associates broke open a bike box and stole '1 lakh belonging to Brahamaji Rao, 63, a resident of Alapakkam, when he was returning home after withdrawing the cash from a nationalized bank.