Man steals 8 water cans from Choolaimedu shop

CHENNAI: A man was caught on camera stealing eight water cans from a shop in Choolaimedu on Tuesday night. Police, who registered a case and launched a hunt, however, said the CCTV camera footage, particularly of the suspect, was not clear.
A police officer said the matter came to light on Wednesday morning when the owner of the shop on Anna Nedumpathai arrived to open his establishment and found just 12 cans. He checked with his vendor who said he had dropped off at least 20 cans in front of the shop late at night.
The owner then informed his association office-bearers who immediately alerted all traders in the area, warning them against leaving water cans outside their shops at night. Later, they learned that a few more people in Choolaimedu, including a restaurant on Anna Nedumpathai, had similarly lost water cans.
A complaint was lodged with the Choolaimedu police whose crime wing began a probe. A special team collected CCTV camera footage from shops and residences in and around the area. A senior officer said the footage showed the suspect in an autorickshaw parking in front of the shop and getting out. He is seen making a few trips between the shop and his auto, filling it with eight cans before riding off. His face, however, is not clear at all, the officer said.