CHENNAI, August 4, 2013: Three unidentified men who came in an autorickshaw stole a 12-sovereign gold chain that adorned the idol at the Sai Baba temple inTambaram on Friday evening. Police said the men used attention diversion tactics to commit the crime.


After reaching the temple, one started talking aloud on his mobile phone. When some worshippers protested, the man got into an argument, and a crowd gathered around him. In the melee, another gang member stole the gold chain. Soon, the three escaped in the autorickshaw in which they had come. 

Police said according to a complaint by temple priest Sivakumar, the Sai Baba temple at Gowrivakkam received hundreds of visitors every day, more so on Fridays. 

"It was clearly planned. While one created a scene and another kept a watch, the third one stole the gold chain," a policeman said. 

Police said the three could have done a recce a few days earlier and decided to strike on Friday when the crowd would be more. The Selaiyur police have registered a case and are on the lookout for the gang.

Source: The Times of India, DT. August 4, 2013.