Woman arrested in Bengaluru for stealing gold chain, cash from lodge companion

CHENNAI: A 48-year-old woman was arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly stealing a gold chain and cash from a man she had met through an online application and was staying with at a lodge in St Thomas Mount in Chennai.

Police said the complainant, Kannan (53), a resident of Chromepet, had previously worked as a general manager at a private company in Valasaravakkam and was currently looking for employment.

According to the police, Kannan became acquainted with the woman, identified as Kanchan Latha Singh, through an online app. On her invitation, the two checked into a lodge in the St Thomas Mount area on August 26.

Later that night, Kannan allegedly found that his gold chain weighing around 2.5 sovereigns and Rs 4,000 in cash were missing. He also discovered that the woman had left the lodge.

Based on his complaint, the St Thomas Mount police registered a case and launched an investigation. A police team examined CCTV footage and tracked the suspect using her mobile phone number, eventually locating her in Bengaluru.

Police travelled to Bengaluru and arrested Kanchan Latha Singh at a lodge on September 9.

Investigators recovered Rs 1.5 lakh, said to be the remaining proceeds after she allegedly sold the stolen gold chain and spent part of the money. Two mobile phones and five SIM cards were also seized.

The woman was produced before a court in Devanahalli and subsequently brought to Chennai.

After further investigation, she was produced before the Alandur court on September 10 and remanded in judicial custody.