CCTV footage helps police nab autorickshaw driver for theft

Annamalai (48), broke the shutter of a bakery located on Anna Main Road and decamped with the money and other eatables on Tuesday. Moses Jebastian, the bakery owner, noticed that his shop was burgled on Wednesday morning and lodged a complaint with the police, following which the police swung into action and recovered CCTV footage from the area and started investigating the crime.

The CCTV footage showed Annamalai visiting the locality in his autorickshaw and surveying the area at around 1 am. Later, he visited the locality a second time and parked his autorickshaw behind other vehicles which were parked less than 50 metres from the shop. At first, he consumed ganja and alcohol. Later, he proceeded to break open the lock of the shutter and carried out the theft.

While inspecting the CCTV visuals, the police immediately recognised Annamalai as he was earlier arrested for his involvement in other robbery cases that were reported in the city. In 2014, he attempted to burgle a house in Pallikaranai and in July 2016, the public caught him when he tried to break into a locked house using a crowbar. 

Annmalai had earlier lived in MGR Nagar and was familiar with the area. His family had to relocate from the locality after his involvement in thefts were made public. His family now reside in Iyyapanthagal in Porur.

Annamalai is the owner of the autorickshaw, which he uses to transport the stolen good while carrying out the thefts during the night. His son uses the autorickshaw during the day to irk out a living by ferrying passengers. 

The police arrested Annamalai and remanded him in judicial custody. However, the police were unable to recover any of money as the accused claimed that he had already spent all of it. 

The police filed a case and are conducting further investigations to recover the stolen cash.