Habitual offender arrested for burglary in Erode

A habitual offender was arrested on Friday (February 6, 2026) in connection with a burglary reported at the house of a former Army personnel at Moolapalayam in Erode.

According to the police, the complainant, Arulkumar (45), who is employed abroad, had informed that his his wife, Hema, locked the house before leaving for a relative’s residence in Mettur in Salem district on February 2. The house key was left with a neighbour.

The incident came to light when a Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) staff member visited the area for routine electricity meter reading and the neighbour opened the house. The door was found unsecured, and a subsequent inspection revealed that the lock of an almirah had been broken and that 11.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery were missing.

Based on a complaint, police examined the CCTV footage from the locality and identified the accused as Naveen (32) of Akkarai Kodiveri near Gobichettipalayam. Police said he had come to the neighbourhood for a painting job at a nearby house and committed the burglary after noticing that the house had remained locked for two consecutive days.

The Erode Taluk police arrested Naveen and recovered the stolen jewellery. Officials said he has more than 15 criminal cases pending against him at various police stations in the district.