Notorious gang in South, nabbed

By Sunil Dharmabandu de Silva   

Three men and a woman, belonging to a robber gang were taken into custody in connection with stealing jewellery and money in possession of women. 

 These suspects were residents of Walgama in the Matara police division, aged 34,40, 44 and 52 years. They were all married and the 44-years-old suspect is said to be an Island Re-convicted Criminal (I.R.C).   

Acting on a complaint lodged by a woman, a widow residing in Kapugama in Devinuwara on February 8, the police were able to arrest 
this group.   

One of the gang members had befriended with the woman saying that she resembled his wife. Then on February 8 he had given her a call saying that he was on the way to Matara in a car and asked her to meet him at Matara bus stand. After they met at the Matara bus stand he had suggested her to accompany him to visit his mother and sister who are living in Weligama.to which she had agreed.   

On the way he had stopped the vehicle and get in to the rear seat to have a chat with her when two men who had arrived there had robbed her valuables at knife point. They had removed two gold rings worn by the man as well and vanished.   

Later the man had dropped her at Nupe and left. Later police found that the man is also a member of the gang and that his rings had been removed just to hoodwink the woman.   
The vehicle that had been used by this criminal gang and had been taken on a monthly rent of Rs.80,000 was taken into custody by the police.   

A visa card, gold chain with a pendant, two gold bangles, gold wrist-let, two gold rings studded with precious stones and a sum of Rs. 11,000 cash had been stolen from the complainant. The value of the gold jewellery was Rs.260,000. Two rings and the visa card had been recovered with a gold nugget from the 52 year old suspect. He was a goldsmith who was charged for keeping stolen goods on two earlier occasions as well.   

It has been revealed that this criminal gang had been engaged in similar robberies in Galle, Tangalle and Angunakolapelessa area too. In order to apprehend the suspects, G.P.S technology and CCTV cameras were used.   

A team of police officers including police sergeants: Sarath Gamage (19931), S.A.Palitha (18293) , J.A.Sarath (36049) and PC J.W.P Samantha (55906), P.D.T.Madushanka (39936) , L.W.Karunanayake ( 78909) and WPC C.A.Indika (5314) carried out the raid with the advice of Matara SSP Anil Priyantha and with the directions of Weligama HQ IP Krishantha Lokuge and SI and Acting OIC of the CID D.M.J. Ranathunga. 

Arrangements are being made by the Weligama police to produce the suspects before the Matara Magistrate’s court .