Police find similarities in burglaries at Tasmac shops

CHENNAI: Striking similarities have emerged in recent burglaries at Tasmac wine shops in and around Chennai.
While burglars drilled into the wall at two shops located in thickly populated areas in city to access the cash chest, burglaries at two outlets located on the outskirts of the city were carried out after breaking open the shutters. None of the shops had any CCTV installed and a burglar alarm in one of the shops failed.
The four thefts were reported between December and March. In the burglary incidents at Kodungaiyur and Redhills in January and March, the gang drilled a hole into the wall to commit the crime.
"A hole, about one feet in diameter, was drilled to enter the Tasmac shop at Kodungaiyur in January. The gang entered through an attached bar, which shared a common wall with the shop," a Tasmac official said. Only a thin person can enter through the hole. "It was a cleverly executed operation and the gang decamped with 1.5 lakh in cash," the official said.
An identical burglary was reported at a Tasmac shop at Redhills two months later. Sandwiched between a police station and a busy bus terminus on GNT Road, the criminals took away cash from the chest. "The gang would have done a thorough recce ahead of executing their plans because they were able to enter the shop by drilling a hole from the rear side," another official said. A total of 4 lakh was stolen in the March 23 incident.
In the western suburbs of Nazarathpet and Tirunindravur, two TASMAC wine shops were targeted in two months, where the shutters were smashed in.
Both the shops were located in isolated pockets on vacant plots away from the residential zone. About 7 lakh was stolen.
"In both the cases, the criminals had a clear idea of where the cash chest was located. The burglary alarm system installed at Nazarathpet shop was dysfunctional," a Tasmac official said.
When contacted, Nazarathpet police said that three people had been arrested two weeks back in connection with the burglary at Madavaram. They, however, confessed to stealing only 1 lakh.