Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police apprehended a seasoned thief identified as Uma Shankar, a resident of Telangana who used to travel by air to carry out a string of gold thefts from locked homes. He was arrested from Thiruvananthapuram airport after an investigation into a series of robberies spanning the past two months
Uma Shankar's modus operandi involved surveying the city in an auto-rickshaw, scouting for houses left unattended. Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju explained that Shankar would mark locked homes on Google Maps during his reconnaissance. Subsequently, around 10 pm at night, Shankar would return to the targeted houses, stealthily positioning himself nearby, awaiting an opportune moment to strike.
Equipped with easily obtainable cutting tools, Shankar would breach locked gates and gain access to the premises by forcefully breaking open doors or windows. His primary focus was on stealing gold, which he later pawned at finance companies. Shankar would intentionally forgo retrieving the pawned gold, leaving it behind as part of his calculated strategy.
Further investigations revealed that Shankar had first visited Thiruvananthapuram in May under the guise of seeking darshan (divine blessings) at the renowned Padmanabhaswamy temple. It was during this visit that he meticulously planned his subsequent robberies. Returning in July, Shankar aimed to execute his well-devised schemes. However, his criminal streak came to an end when he was apprehended at the airport while attempting to depart once again.
The Kerala Police, aided by comprehensive CCTV footage, successfully traced the auto-rickshaw that Shankar had used for transportation. The auto driver played a crucial role in assisting the authorities in locating the suspect. Additionally, it was revealed that Shankar had a history of criminal activities during his teenage years in Telangana.
The police force has urged residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard their homes against such criminal activities. Measures such as installing robust security systems, notifying neighbours about extended absences, and promptly reporting any suspicious activities are strongly recommended.