Ranjith, who runs an AC service centre in the area, received an unexpected phone call on the morning of the incident from a man who identified himself as Anas. The caller asked whether the air conditioning unit kept in the front yard of the shop was scrap metal available for sale.
Ranjith told him that the unit was not for sale. He explained that the expensive appliance had been brought by a customer from abroad and had just been serviced. It had been temporarily placed outside in the yard after being treated for a beetle infestation.
Shortly after the call, Ranjith travelled to Karukachal to purchase materials. When he returned, the air conditioner was still in the yard. He later left again to attend to a servicing job at a nearby house. When he returned, the appliance had disappeared.
Ranjith then tried calling the number from which Anas had contacted him, but the calls went unanswered.
The Karukachal police have launched an investigation into the theft. In an unusual turn, when police called the suspect using the same number, the person on the other end responded with mock innocence, asking, “Why would we steal it after asking you about it first?”
The police have since summoned the caller to the station for questioning. Investigating officers have already inspected the site twice and are relying heavily on CCTV footage from a neighbouring residence, which is expected to provide crucial leads in tracking down the person behind the theft.
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