Chennai: Driver by day, thief at night arrested
CCTV footage near crime spot exposes him.
Chennai: A 46-year-old autorickshaw driver, who was ferrying passengers by day and gathering recce for break-ins by night, ran out of luck as his identity was given away when his vehicle was captured in a surveillance camera late on Thursday night.
His involvement came to light following a burglary reported at a baker’s shop in MGR Nagar during the small hours of Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Annamalai, presently residing at Iyyappanthangal, earlier lived in MGR Nagar until his involvement figured in a couple of housebreaks, including one each in KK Nagar and Pallikaranai.
In Tuesday’s incident, he broke into a bakery on Anna Main Road and looted Rs 20,000 cash, and Rs 3,000 worth eatables meant for sale. Perusal of the CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity established an autorickshaw moving at an unusually slow speed on the road while passing by the bakery. The same autorickshaw returned later and was stationed nearly 50 m away in a line of vehicles parked by the roadside.
In the CCTV, the driver, armed with a crowbar, hops out and works his way into the shop by forcing the shutter locks at around 1.15 am on Tuesday. He leaves the shop in a few minutes with the collection and the bakery products and rides away in his vehicle. The camera gives away the identity of the suspect as it clearly captured the registration number of the vehicle.
A preliminary inquiry revealed the role of the serial offender who was picked up from his Iyyapanthangal residence late on Thursday night. Investigations also revealed Annamalai had earlier been caught red-handed when he broke into a house in KK Nagar last year.
He was also arrested in a similar case which was reported in Pallikaranai.
Annamalai would allow his son to take the autorickshaw out for fares during the early hours and until afternoon. He would then take over and continue plying until he found a suitable place to loot. The autorickshaw, bearing registration no. TN 09 BV 2190, is owned by Annamalai and it was seized following his arrest.