Church heist: Tamil Nadu man among 3 held

Additional Police Commissioner Hemant Nimbalkar told newsmen here on Monday that the arrested were identified as Alex alias Surya of Ernakulam and Sujoy of Kannur in Kerala and Jayaprakash of Madurai. He said six vehicles valued at Rs 40 lakh and stolen from various places in the city and in Andhra Pradesh were recovered from them. 

Nimbalkar said that the gang had robbed Rs 2.5 lakh in cash, 60 gram gold ornaments, foreign currencies from Veilankanni church (Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health) in Nagapattinam district on January 31.  

Besides they had stolen foreign currency and 75 grams of gold ornaments from four churches in Kerala.  All the robbed articles have been recovered. He said that arrested Alex had served jail term in Kerala on theft cases and came to Bengaluru in 2011 for treatment of one of his friend who was suffering from Cancer and indulged in theft cases. 

Nimbalkar said that the gang was evading arrested though CCTV in Velankanni Church had recorded their identity.  They had stolen vehicles in Tamil Nadu and Goa also.