Ratheesh, also known as 'Kozhi' Ratheesh, 50, of Vaikom, was known in police circles as 'Bunty Chor, the second' and was trapped by a special team under Baiju Poulose, Circle Inspector, Tripunithura, on the basis of visuals captured in CCTVs in three hotels.
The police received many complaints from hotels and restaurants, following which three teams were formed. He was known to imitate the mannerisms of the hero in the popular Malayalam film 'Meesa Madhavan' before he committed the crime at a chosen place.
Ratheesh had moved to Kasargod nearly 14 years ago and used to invest the money from thefts in auto-rickshaws that he rented out there.
Even though he had been committing thefts all the while, he confessed to nearly 200 crimes committed in past six years. These are being verified now, said a senior police officer.
It is learnt that Ratheesh committed thefts in Kasargod, Kottayam and Alappuzha besides Ernakulam and other districts.
The investigating team narrowed down on him after going through the video footages and the records of known criminals who operated in these areas during the past 30 years.
Ratheesh also had a murder case registered against him in Kasaragod in which he was acquitted. He is at present wanted in another assault case there.
Following the leads from the visuals in the CCTV, the investigation team tracked him to his hide-out at Palayam in Kozhikode, but could not find him. He was arrested from near the Tripunithura railway station, the police said.
Ratheesh had also played minor parts in Malayalam films like “Dharmakshethre Kurukshethre” and “Mallanum Madevanum”.
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