Criminal Mastermind Vijayakumar Evades Capture in Daring Coimbatore Jewellery Heist

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The police have arrested the wife of the main suspect involved in the daring jewellery heist.

Photo: PTI

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Coimbatore: A brazen break-in occurred at Jos Alukkas Jewellery in Coimbatore during the early hours of Tuesday when a 24-year-old suspect, identified as Vijayakumar from Devareddiyur near Harur, Tamil Nadu, managed to bypass security measures with remarkable dexterity. Referred to as a “real-life Spiderman” by Deputy Commissioner G Chandeesh, the suspect skillfully maneuvered through a wall, a narrow opening, and climbed three floors to gain access to the jewellery store.

Once inside, Vijayakumar changed his attire and meticulously selected pieces of jewellery amounting to approximately 150 sovereigns (equivalent to three kilograms) before making a successful escape. However, the criminal inadvertently left behind crucial evidence captured by the store’s CCTV cameras, eventually leading the police to identify his whereabouts, recover the stolen goods, and subsequently apprehend his wife. The arrest of Vijayakumar’s wife, Narmada, was announced on Thursday. Commissioner V Balakrishnan stated, “She played an active role in the crime from the early stages.”

Despite the police closing in on his hiding place on Wednesday night, Vijayakumar managed to pull off another audacious feat by climbing 15 feet to the roof and narrowly evading their arrival. Authorities expressed astonishment at his agility, dubbing him a “real-life Spiderman.” With a criminal record that includes at least four prior burglary cases, Vijayakumar posed a significant challenge to the police force.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the burglar alarm at the jewellery store was non-functional on the day of the heist due to maintenance. This, combined with the suspect’s calculated movements within the store and his methodical selection of ornaments weighing a total of 3.2 kg, raised suspicions of possible insider involvement.

Balakrishnan believes that the suspect received assistance from another individual. He stated, “He walked into the store and climbed to the third floor via the narrow path between the building and the elevation panel.” “We suspect he had help from a third party who possessed knowledge of the jewellery store, or someone familiar with the construction of a false wall and the narrow gap in between,” added the Commissioner.

Upon initial entry, Vijayakumar disguised himself by wearing a traditional veshti, which he later exchanged for track pants after climbing three floors through a narrow wall gap. Despite the store’s security measures, Vijayakumar’s familiarity with the layout and the ease with which he navigated suggested the possibility of insider information.

Vijayakumar’s escape inadvertently left behind a shirt containing a Pollachi-Coimbatore bus ticket, providing crucial leads for the police. Partial fingerprints found on a CCTV camera also aided the investigation, indicating efforts to divert attention from his activities.

Utilizing advanced technology such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems and the InterOperable Criminal Justice System, along with analyzing over 350 CCTV clips, the police successfully traced Vijayakumar’s movements to the Coimbatore bus stand and eventually to a friend’s house in Annamalai. The stolen goods were subsequently recovered from his residence and that of a relative in Palacode.

“This rooftop escape, executed moments before the police’s arrival, was highly dangerous. After we took his wife into custody, she revealed that he wouldn’t have attempted such a perilous escape if he had known that the police team had arrived for the bike theft case,” explained a police officer.

Despite the intensive investigation, Vijayakumar managed to evade arrest once again, executing a rooftop escape just moments before the police’s entry.