Five persons arrested for attempting robbery

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) Police today arrested five persons for allegedly attempting to steal valuables from a house, after administering liquor to a 64-year-old man, the lone occupant of the house at suburb Ambattur a few days back.

Police said while the old man Viswanathan was staying alone in the house, a four member gang including an 18-year-old girl approached him and identified them as producers of a popular television channel.

They told him that they came for doing an interview with him.

Later, they offered him liquor and stayed in the house over night. During wee hours of the next day, the gang attempted to load all valuable items including television, DVD player, Refrigerator and other electronic goods in a van.

On suspicion, some neighbours sounded alarm and attempted to nab them.

But all the male members of the gang managed to esape, leaving behind the girl Madhu Mathi.

The residents handed over her to the police.

Based on her confession, the police arrested Venugopal (36) of Kolathur, Peter (27) of Oradagam, Yesu (28) and Lingeswaran (27) of Nagercoil and Newton (26) of Kanyakumari, Preliminary enquiries revealed that the gang was 'wanted' for more than 16 theft cases, which took place in and around the city during the last few months.

Police had recovered Rs seven lakh worth stolen property including one car, two two-wheelers, one autorickshaw, two digital cameras, two DVD players and one colour television.

The arrested were remanded to judicial custody, police added.

UNI RV AJ SY RS2222