Date:06/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/06/stories/2008100659160400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

House burgled and set ablaze

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: A fire broke out at a house in Tondiarpet early Sunday. After the fire was out, the owner Ezhumalai found that 15 sovereigns of gold and Rs 15,000 in cash were missing.

Police suspect that the house could have been set ablaze by burglars.

Police said the incident took place at Ezhumalai’s house on Avathara Ramasamy Street, Tondiarpet. The owner, who is a catering contractor, along with his family members, had gone to a temple in Periyapalayam on Saturday morning.

Police suspect that the burglars had struck in the wee hours of Sunday and might have set the house on fire before fleeing with the loot.

The neighbours had later noticed smoke coming out of the house early Sunday and alerted the police. Soon, a fire tender reached the spot and the fire was put out around 4.15 a.m.

According to an investigating officer, Ezhumalai came to know of the incident, after neighbours telephoned.

He rushed back to Chennai and found that the gold jewellery and cash kept inside an almirah in his bedroom had gone missing, the officer added.

Based on a complaint lodged by Ezhumalai with the Tondiarpet police, three special teams have been formed to nab the culprits.