Date:20/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/20/stories/2006042018410300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Silver articles stolen

Staff Reporter

Thieves entered jewellery shop but could not open locker

ENTRY POINT: The broken portion in the rear side of the jewellery shop through which intruders entered early on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: Thieves broke into a jewellery shop on Erukkancheri High Road, Vyasarpadi, in north Chennai, and took away silver articles weighing seven kg early on Wednesday.

Shop owner S. Babulal said that the intruders broke the lock on the terrace door to enter the building. A rice godown is located on the ground floor next to the jewellery shop.

The intruders broke the padlock of the grill gate of the staircase and came down. They reached the rear wall of the jewellery shop and made a hole in it to enter the shop.

C. Ramlal a relative of Mr. Babulal said lot of gold jewellery was kept in the locker. The intruders attempted to break it open, but failed.

The incident came to light on Wednesday morning, when the workers in the rice godown opened the shop.

They saw the damaged portion of the wall at the rear of the building and immediately informed Mr. Babulal about the break-in. The shop is three years old.

No burglary was reported in the area in the last five years. When contacted police authorities said the intruders had removed 750 grams of silver articles from the shop. Two special teams were formed to trace the offenders. A senior officer said four `chance' prints were lifted from the scene of crime, which had been sent for analysis. The police also recovered some implements used by the intruders. M.K.B. Nagar police have registered a case and are investigating.