KOCHI: In a shocking incident, a mass robbery attempt was made in 15 shops at Palarivattam in the wee hours of Monday. Curiously though, none of the shops, including a computer showroom, were looted.“The thieves have only checked the cash drawers and taken the meagre amount kept in the shops. None of the things in the shops have been stolen,” the police said.They added that the incident, which happened around 2 a.m. at the South Janata Road, is suspected to be the work of a gang consisting of 3-4 people as the shutters seem to have been broken by a group by manually lifting them. The gang also tied up and threatened a security guard who was on duty in one of the shops.“Around 2 a.m., two men approached me and pushed me to the ground when I questioned them. They then tied me up and threatened to kill me if I cried for help. Afterwards, I heard the noise of shutters being opened,” said Abu, the security guard, in the statement given to the police.The security guard was later rescued by passers-by and admitted to the General Hospital.Similar incidents had occurred in Kunnamkulam, Paravoor and Kalamassery in the recent past, the police said and added that they suspected that the same gang was involved in all these cases. The police also suspect the involvement of migrant labourers.“The crime has been carried out after the night patrol passed through the area. It looks as though the thieves had waited till then to start their work,” police said.The dog squad and fingerprint experts examined the shops. The fingerprints, suspected to be that of the robbers, have been obtained. Over 14 persons, including four migrants, who were roaming around in bus stands and railway stations in a suspicious manner and those who were seen in the area at the time of the incident were taken into custody and interrogated.
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