Chennai: A thief who snatched a gold chain from a teenage girl was arrested by the city police. Inquiries revealed that he stole the gold to buy a mobile phone for his girlfriend on her birthday.Police said the culprit, Saravanan, 24, of Pulianthope, worked at a clothing store in Spencer Plaza and had no previous criminal cases. The incident occurred on the night of June 24 when the teenager and her mother were travelling on a two-wheeler along Canal Road in Kilpauk Garden Colony. The accused approached on a motorcycle and snatched the chain from the teenagers.On her complaint, the TP Chathiram police registered a case, scanned CCTV footage from the area and identified the suspect. On June 30, police arrested Saravanan from his residence and seized the motorcycle used to commit the offence.During interrogation, Saravanan told investigators that he pledged the stolen gold chain for ₹95,000 at a pawn shop in Pulianthope. The chain was recovered and the accused was remanded in judicial custody.
