Family friend held for robbing home alone elderly woman

Police identified the suspect as Raghunathan, a 22-year-old air-conditioner mechanic. Police sources said that the man was a friend of the 61-year-old victim, Lalitha’s late husband, who used to visit the family often. Recently, he had come to meet Lalitha, who lives on Second Main Road, asking for some financial help. However, Raghunathan returned empty handed after she informed him that she was not in position to help him. 

When someone rang the doorbell on Thursday evening, Lalitha, who  was alone at home, went to open the front door. There, she found a masked man, who sprayed an insect repellent on her face, leaving her unconscious. Later, when she gained consciousness,  Lalitha found that the robber had made away with her bangles and other jewels, weighing around seven sovereigns. Following this, she lodged a complaint with the local police. 

As part of their investigation, the police team collected the CCTV footage from the apartment complex. It showed the suspect covering his face with a handkerchief before going up to Lalitha’s apartment. When they showed the footage to Lalitha, she immediately identified the man as Raghunathan. Based on the information provided by her, the police team headed to Raghunathan’s home on Friday. 

When questioned with this clinching proof, the man confessed to have committed the crime. He said he resorted to this measure, as Lalitha refused to help him. Raghunathan was arrested and later remanded in judicial custody.