Residents of a quiet village in Trichy district were left shaken after unidentified miscreants targeted two locked houses in separate incidents, making off with gold jewellery and a two-wheeler. The crimes, which came to light on Sunday, have prompted police to launch an investigation under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Medical Shop Owner's Gold Ornaments Stolen
In the first incident, a 57-year-old medical shop owner identified as K Gobi fell victim to the thieves. Gobi, who owns two houses in Elurpatti village near Thottiyam, resides in his new home but stores valuables in his old house located about 100 meters away.
The theft was discovered on Sunday morning when Gobi visited the old property. He found the front door lock broken open. Upon checking the locker inside, he realised that gold ornaments weighing 9.2 sovereigns were missing.
Motorcycle Stolen from Driver's Sister's House
In a second, unrelated theft in the same village, a motorcycle was stolen. The victim, 49-year-old A Vadivel, works as a private bus driver in Thottiyam. Vadivel had parked his two-wheeler at his sister's house in Elurpatti on Saturday before leaving for duty.
When he returned on Sunday morning, the vehicle was gone. The theft suggests the perpetrators were active in the area during the same timeframe.
Police Investigation Under New Legal Code
The Kattuputhur police have registered two separate cases in connection with these incidents. The cases have been filed under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which has replaced the Indian Penal Code.
The charges invoked are:
- Section 331(4) for trespass.
- Section 305(a) for theft.
Police are currently investigating the sequence of events and are searching for the unidentified culprits. The twin thefts have raised concerns about security in the area, prompting locals to be more vigilant about their locked and unoccupied properties.
