Pickpocket 'celebrates' 100th arrest in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: His name is 'Bonda' Arumugam and on Thursday he 'celebrated' his 100th arrest. But the Coimbatore police, who picked up the 55-year-old pickpocket, said they could not confirm this.
In the police's crime and criminal tracking network and system (CCTNS), Arumugam has been involved in 72 pickpocket cases in Coimbatore city alone since 2010. But Arumugam started his career in crime as a 14-year-old, so it's possible he has reached his self-proclaimed milestone.
Over 40 years, the native of Selvapuram in Coimbatore city has used the proceeds from crime to look after his wife and two children, who live in Kannur district of Kerala, and also on liquor and massages, police said.
He has kept up with the times, sending money to his wife through Gpay and UPI transactions. He stole wallets, gold jewellery and mobile phones from commuters on buses, police said.
On Thursday, he landed in the police clutches while fleeing after stealing a mobile phone from a man on a bus. A police team led by sub-inspector Marimuthu was waiting at the Prakasam bus stop on Big Bazaar Street-Oppanakara Street junction when they spotted and nabbed Arumugam. He was arrested on a complaint from bus commuter Sabir Ahamed, 42, whose mobile phone he had pinched.
"Arumugam told us that he was being arrested for the 100th time. He does no work, only steals from bus commuters," said a police officer.
"If commuters attempt to catch him, Arumugam raises a hue and cry, protesting his innocence loudly, and escapes in the ensuing confusion. He also strikes in the evenings as police then do not detain him at police stations to avoid any custodial death," said the officer.