Kochi : Panangad Police have arrested three people in connection with a series of thefts from offering boxes at temples and churches in Panangad and Nettoor areas over the past two weeks.
The arrested are Sainudheen Ajmal, 18, of Perumbadappu in Palluruthy; Mohammed Arsam, 18, of Edakochi in Palluruthy; and a 17-year-old from Alappuzha who was staying in a rented house in Palluruthy. Temple authorities said around Rs 5,000 had been stolen.
Police said the theft spree began in Sept, when the offering box at St Sebastian’s Church in Madavana was broken. The suspects allegedly travelled around on two-wheelers at night and targeted places of worship. The trio was reportedly caught near the Nettoor Bridge during a night patrol after allegedly breaking open the offering box at the Sreedevi Subrahmanya Temple in Nettoor. When the police approached them, one of the suspects fled. He was later apprehended near Panangad highway. The police recovered the stolen money from the suspects, as well as tools allegedly used to break open locks from the vehicle in which they were travelling. The suspects are also believed to have attempted thefts at other temples. Police are investigating whether they are involved in similar cases. The arrests were made by a team led by Panangad station house officer Mithun Mohan, along with police personnel Rajesh P S, Saiju Devassy and Sreejith M.