Auto driver spikes tea of senior citizen escapes with gold, cash, and cell phone

The woman Vimala Bosco, 61, of Pazhaniyappa Nagar in Madhavaram, a widow, is living alone in the house since her daughter is married and settled in Dubai. Her husband died of COVID last year, said police.

Vimala, a retired private firm employee, wanted to visit friends in T Nagar and boarded an autorickshaw from Perambur. After meeting her friends and shopping, she returned home in the same autorickshaw.

During the return journey, the auto driver allegedly started a conversation with the victim and the latter told him that she needed to get her car serviced.

The auto driver offered to attend to the fault in the car and checked the vehicle after dropping her home. He allegedly informed Vimala that he needs to get spares and received Rs 6,000 from her.

While the victim made tea for the auto driver, the latter reportedly offered to make tea for her and entered the kitchen. However, Vimala fell unconscious while sipping the tea made by the auto driver, and she woke up after 10 minutes to find her gold chain, a pair of bangles, her mobile phone and Rs 60,000 in cash missing.

Realising that the auto driver had spiked her drinks and escaped with the valuables, Vimala lodged a complaint at Madhavaram police station on Tuesday. A case has been registered and a hunt has been launched for the auto driver with the help of CCTV footage.