In a bizarre turn of events, a thief who stole gold ornaments weighing about 10 sovereigns from a house at Ariyannur in Thrissur returned eight sovereigns of the stolen items, accompanied by an apology note and a request for the owner to withdraw the case. The family immediately alerted the police, who seized the recovered ornaments and submitted them to the court.
The Theft Incident
The theft occurred at the residence of Pokkakkillath Kunjumuhammed on Friday night. The thief stole two bangles, two chains, and three sets of earrings from a cupboard in an upper-floor room. Kunjumuhammed's daughter Bushra P K and her husband, Aboobacker Muhammed Rafi, were sleeping in the adjacent room at the time. The exit door on the upper floor was left unlocked, which the thief is believed to have used to enter the house. CCTV cameras installed in the house captured almost all of the thief's actions after he entered the room, with his face clearly visible in the footage.
Discovery of the Theft
Bushra discovered the theft the next morning while getting ready to go to the hospital where she works. She noticed her earring was missing, prompting the family to review the CCTV footage. They quickly realized what had happened and alerted the police. Law enforcement officials conducted a thorough search of the house and its surroundings, assisted by fingerprint experts and a dog squad.
On Monday morning, when Rafi and his son opened the front door, they noticed a gunny bag placed in the sit-out area. Initially puzzled, they were surprised to find inside the bag one chain, two bangles, and two sets of earrings—along with a note. The note explained that the thief had already sold ornaments weighing two sovereigns and apologized for the crime, urging the family to withdraw the case.
Police and Family Response
The video of the theft had gone viral after local television channels reported the incident. Rafi speculated that the thief's fear of being identified prompted the return of the majority of the stolen items. However, the family remains determined to pursue the case. "We still want to pursue the case. We are yet to get back ornaments weighing two sovereigns. Also, a person who had the audacity to break open a house where people are staying and lift gold should not go unpunished," Rafi stated.
Guruvayur Assistant Commissioner of Police V Suresh confirmed that the police would continue the investigation to its logical conclusion. "There is no legal provision for a compromise in a theft case. The accused is absconding and we are after him," the ACP said. The family will need to approach the court to reclaim the recovered ornaments.
The incident has sparked discussions about crime and remorse in the region, with many questioning the thief's motives and the legal implications of such an act.
