Got ’em by the collar

Tailor's mark on collar of shirt leads police to burglary suspects in Tamil Nadu

Got 'em by the collar

Tailor's mark on collar of shirt leads police to burglary suspects in Tamil Nadu
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If Likeu00a0so many people these days, a bunch of alleged burglars from Tamil Nadu who liked to ply their trade in Bangalore had worn readymade clothes, they may still have been free to plan their next strike.

A small tailor's mark on the shirt did the gang of four in. The accused, identified as Madhavan, Vajravelu, Muruga and Velu by the police, were caught in 48 hours.

The accused were changing into another set of clothes behind some bushes after burglaries in HSR Layout recently when they were forced to make a run for it by the arrival of the police. They left behind a shirt in their hurry.

There was a mark on the shirt collar, which took the police to a tailor in Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.

Looking up records
The tailor looked up his order-and-delivery book, and the rest was easy for the police.

"The gang stole cash and goods worth about Rs 3 lakh from five houses," said Sub-Inspector Mirza Ali Raza of HSR Layout police station. "We checked the shirt left behind for clues and the tailor's mark confirmed that the group belonged to Krishnagiri across the state border. We went there and asked the tailor about the shirt owner and the tailor looked up his records and provided the address."

The four are now in custody and the police said the stolen cash and jewellery has been recovered from them.

Raza said the four would come to Bangalore, commit as many break-ins as fast as they could, and rush back across the border.

Loot and scoot
He said the accused, who selected HSR Layout to strike, got into the act at 12.30 pm and had broken into five houses by 3.30 pm.

"When the police arrived after learning of four thefts in the neighbourhood, the gang members were changing their clothes behind some bushes as they always did before leaving an area," said Raza.

On the fringes of the city, HSR Layout has become a haven for robbers since an easy escape to Tamil Nadu is possible through the Hosur Road.

"Recently, most of the Bangalore robberies are done by gangs hailing from across the border," said Raza.

Police officials said the inter-state justice system helped thieves escape severe punishment.

"They come to Bangalore in the morning and steal vehicles and break into houses and leave for Tamil Nadu the same evening," said Raza. "It has all become a very big headache for the Bangalore police."

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