A 35-year-old man was arrested by Vaniyambadi Town police on Friday for stealing 17 sovereigns of gold jewellery, silver anklets, and ₹10,000 from a commuter in a government bus a few days ago.
The police said the arrested was S. Manickam, a native of Madhanur village near Ambur. Initial inquiry revealed that the victims S. Dharmalingam, 52, a rice merchant from Vellore, and his wife D. Latha, 47, were travelling in a bus bound for Bengaluru. The couple kept their luggage on the steel rack above them. When the bus halted at the New Town terminus under Vaniyambadi municipality limits, Latha checked her bag and found her valuables missing.
The couple filed a complaint with the police. During a routine inspection near Vaniyambadi town railway station, a police team found Manickam loitering nearby and questioned him. His evasive replies roused their suspicion. He was taken to the police station where he admitted to having stolen a small jewellery pouch inside a bag that belonged to the couple. Manickam told police that he noticed the couple checking their belongings while travelling in the bus.
He was lodged at the sub jail in Tirupattur town. A probe is under way.
