Police alert to traders hiring other state drivers

This follows an incident in which the Vellore police arrested a driver, Harinder Singh of Madhya Pradesh, who was working for Mittalal Jain, a jewellery shop owner in Sathuvachary, for fleeing with two kg of gold. 

A special team that was formed to nab him tracked him to Gujarat from where he was arrested. He was then taken to his native village in MP from where the stolen gold was recovered. Police said that a particular gang from north India was suspected to be involved in a majority of gold heists in the State. 

“They are using a new modus operandi. These drivers lure employers with low rates through online advertisements. As drivers in TN demand high wages, many local businessmen opt for these north Indian drivers. They are even willing to work for Rs 8,000 per month,” said a source in the police department on condition of anonymity. 

“As most jewellers are from the north, they prefer drivers who can converse in Hindi. These men after joining the work keep a watch on their owners’ movements for three months or more before fleeing with whatever jewellery is available at the shops,” the source added. 

“When locals appoint such drivers, it is safe to ask them to produce a certificate from the local police on their town and also verify the person’s antecedents through their own sources to avoid problems later on,” the official said.