Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 22: A couple who used to allegedly steal valuables at weddings in Hiriadka and surrounding places has been arrested.
The arrested are S R Pradeep (38) and his wife Revati (28), residents of Jayanagar, Shivamogga.
Without anyone's notice, the couple would enter the dressing rooms in wedding halls and steal cash and gold from bags belonging to bride, groom and their relatives. Pradeep and Revati would even take ATM cards from the bags and use them to withdraw money, police said.
The police have seized gold and silver ornaments, cash, a motorcycle, and ATM cards, altogther worth Rs 12 lac from the accused.
Sources said that the couple had been stealing valuables at weddings for the last three-four years. Recently, a theft occured in a wedding at Onthibettu and some of the witnesses had expressed suspicions about a stranger couple who was seen loitering in the premises. They gave a sketch of the couple, and armed with this, the police began a hunt. A man and a woman resembling the sketch were spotted near the bus stand in Hiriadka, and on questioning, they admitted to the thefts, police sources said.
They were produced in court and sent to judicial custody for 15 days.
The operation was conducted by Hiriadka police led by Brahmavar circle inspector Arun Kumar Nayak, on the directions of SP Annamalai.