Theft at Poojappura prison-run cafeteria: one held

The Poojappura police on Tuesday arrested a habitual offender in connection with the recent burglary of the ‘Food for Freedom’ cafeteria run by Kerala Prisons at Poojappura.

The police have identified the accused as Mohammad Abdul Hadi, 26, of Pothencode. He was apprehended by the investigation team from Thiruvalla.

₹4 lakh stolen

The incident occurred on August 18 when over ₹4 lakh, which was kept aside to be deposited in the treasury, was stolen from the cafeteria.

The facility, which is operated by prison staff and inmates as part of a rehabilitation initiative, was targeted when CCTV systems were reportedly non-functional.

According to the police, the accused had previously served jail sentences for thefts and is suspected to have worked in the cafeteria during his imprisonment. The theft was committed after his release recently. He is also accused in similar cases in other States, including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Several cases

Mohammed was allegedly involved in stealing a car belonging to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) near Cherthala. He had also been arrested from a prison in Salem last year by the police which investigated a theft case in Kasaragod. The Bekal police later recovered around ₹1.5 lakh worth of stolen gold from a jewellery shop in Kannur where it had been purportedly sold by him.