Robbers struck at two houses in Gudiyattam and Kaveripakkam and looted around 80 sovereigns of gold jewels, 8 kg of silver and `50,000 in cash. The total value of the stolen property was estimated to be around `7 lakh.
In the first incident, the miscreants gained entry into the house of one Kamalammal, who was living alone after her husband’s death, in Tharanapet area in Gudiyattam during the late hours of Monday. The elderly woman had gone to her daughter’s house in Kumbakonam a few days ago, after asking her son Venkatesan to take care of the house.
The robbers looted 40 sovereigns of jewels, ` 35,000 in cash and five kg of silver ornaments. The robbery came to light on Tuesday morning when Kamalammal’s son Venkatesan, who was living with his family in Pandian Nagar in the town, went to his parent’s house. He found the house locked from the inside. He went to the neighbour’s house and peeped into his house from there and was shocked to see the back door of the house broken open.
The thieves had poured water on the almirah, doors and the floors to erase their fingerprints, the police said and added that they were suspecting the hand of habitual offenders.
In another incident, the robbers looted 49 sovereigns of gold jewels, around 3 kg of silver and `15,000 in cash from one Sakthivel’s house in Mettu Theeru in Kaveripakkam.
The robbery came to light on Monday night when Sakthivel and his family returned from his sister’s house at Jolarpet. The burglars had entered the house after breaking open the front door. The police registered a case and launched a search.