When the Njarakkal police stopped a youngster on the road late at night on Republic Day, it was only part of a routine check during night patrolling.
But the youngster did not appear too comfortable, raising suspicions of the patrolling team. He was taken to the station where he was identified as Daniel, 21, of Nagercoil.
The way he fiddled with his backpack drew the attention of the police to it and they found a laptop and charger inside, which, on questioning, he reportedly confessed was stolen from a convent at Edavanakkad.
“It soon emerged that he had stolen three laptops and a mobile. He had stolen all of them from churches, parish halls, seminaries and convent halls,” said P.K. Mohith, sub inspector, Njarakkal.
The police recovered one laptop from his lodging in the city and another from a computer shop at Penta Menaka where he had sold it. He was produced before the court and remanded.
The police plan to seek his custody shortly to find out whether he was involved in more thefts.