A limited edition new generation motorcycle with a unique colour and a folded number plate blocking the view of the registration number were all that the Palarivattom police had before them when they set out hunting for the accused behind a petrol pump robbery within their limits in May.
After six months and examination of lengthy CCTV footage, the investigation team met with success when the accused were picked up from Kanichukulangara in Alappuzha district. The arrested were identified as Shanu Suresh, 47, of Cherthala and Vishnu, 23, of Kanichukulangara.
They are accused of snatching the cash bag from an employee of a petrol pump near Chakkaraparambu one late night in May. Their modus operandi was to target deserted patrol pumps along the national highway in the guise of filling patrol.
“After filling petrol, they ask change for a bigger denomination note and when the employee searches his bag, Shanu, who used to ride pillion, cuts the string of the bag using a knife and wildly swings the knife to terrorise the staff before speeding away in the motorcycle driven by Vishnu,” said S. Sanal, Station House Officer, Palarivattom.
The accused had targeted petrol pumps at Aluva and Kodakara in a similar manner on the same night after the robbery at Chakkaraparambu. They pulled off another similar operation at a pump at Vayalar in Alappuzha.