The Dematagoda Police Intelligence Division arrested three suspects of a gang who had operated in Colombo and in the suburbs for several years, robbing elderly women of  their gold jewellery by posing as members of the Police Intelligence Unit.

A team of officers of the Dematagoda Police intelligence unit arrested three suspects while operating in Dematagoda on information given to the police by an informant.

 The investigations had revealed that the suspects were members of a large gang that operated in Colombo and in the suburbs robbing gold jewellery from elderly persons. The gang would travel by trishaw looking for elderly women wearing jewellery. They would then approach the unsuspecting women alleging that they are from the police and want to check them due to suspicion.

The gang on the pretext of checking the women would ask them to get into the trishaw to go to the police. Once the victims get into the vehicle they are asked to remove their jewellery and to keep it in a bag to be checked.

When the jewellery is removed the bag is removed un-noticed and they are asked to leave. Once the victim leaves they share the money among themselves by selling or mortgaging the loot.

It has been revealed that the gang has carried out their operations in the Maradana, Dematagoda, Wellawatte, Dehiwela, Wellampitiya and Kolonnawa areas for several years.

Investigations are being conducted to arrest the other suspects.

The police have recovered over 106 sovereigns of gold worth over Rs.39 million that has been mortgaged by the gang. The suspects are to be produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms.  Praharsha Ranasinghe and remanded till the investigations are over. (T. Farook Thajudeen)