Clothing stores as favourite targets; prefers bikes, clothes, watches and perfumes; 14 thefts in seven days by 18 and 20-year-olds

VIZHINJAM: Suspects who are committing thefts targeting clothing stores have been arrested. The Vizhinjam police have arrested Beemapally native Muhammed Sayed (20) and Balaramapuram native Muhammed Amin (18). These are the accused who broke the locks of the Royal Menswear readymade shop operating near the petrol pump on the Mukkola-Uchakkada road in the early hours of the 26th. Around 14 theft cases were uncovered after questioning them. One of the accused is an accused in the theft case at the Mukkola clothing store. The police said that more accused are yet to be arrested in the incident.

A collection of clothes, various watches, perfumes and more than Rs. 4,000 were stolen from Mukkola. CCTV footage showed two masked men committing the theft. The clothes were being transported in sacks on a two-wheeler.

They committed around 14 thefts from the 20th to the 26th of this month. The accused are friends. They also steal two-wheelers from places they choose for theft. The police said that their method is to abandon this vehicle when the petrol runs out and steal another vehicle to commit the next theft. They used to live a luxurious life with the stolen money and distribute the clothes to friends and others. The stolen bike has also been taken into custody from them.

Although the accused had a juvenile case before, this is the first time they have been arrested in a theft case. There are four cases each against them in Vizhinjam and Balaramapuram. There are also cases of theft at Parasala, Tamil Nadu and Kaliyikavila stations.

The accused were arrested by a team comprising SIs M Prashanth and Dinesh, SCPO Ramu PV, Arun P Mani, Vinayakan and CPOs Rajin and Godwin. The accused, who were produced in court, were remanded.