Flying' thief held by Kochi police

Kochi: A notorious thief from Mumbai who would take flights to various locations across the country including Kochi to commit robberies was finally arrested by Nedumbassery police. Kamaruddin Sheikh (47), a native of Jogeswari West in Andheri, was hunt down by a police team led by Baiju P.M., Circle Inspector of Nedumbassery, from Mumbai. The special team zeroed in on the accused while probing a case related to theft of gold ornament worth Rs 3.5 lakh and cash from a guest of a luxury hotel near the international airport here in January this year.

“The accused used to take a flight from Mumbai to the target locations every Saturday morning and return home by Sunday evening after conducting the theft. Sheikh would dress up like a corporate executive and upon landing at the airport, he would take a taxi and visit the targeted hotels in guise of attending an official meet. On entering the hotel, he would go straight inside and return in the same taxi after lifting valuables from unlocked rooms,” Baiju P.M. said.

At times, guests at these hotels had spotted him coming out from the rooms though he would flee the scene after apologising for entering the ‘wrong room’ mistakenly, the officer said. Earlier while acting on a complaint, the Nedumbassery police scrutinized CCTV footage from the hotel and spotted him moving around with the stolen bag. Upon checking ticket details, they found out the suspect belonged to Mumbai.

Soon, a police team was dispatched to the city and after tracing his mobile number, they nabbed him from a luxury apartment in Andheri.   During interrogation, the accused confessed to visiting several hotels across Kerala including four luxury hotels in Munnar. He had landed in Kochi at least on three occasions and stole Rs 1.92 lakh from a hotel in Elamakkara and Rs 32,000 from another in Nedumbassery earlier. Sheikh owned at least two apartments in Mumbai and also ran an apparel business firm there.