Public warned against thefts at lodges

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Police have warned the public not to check into lodges where prostitutes operate as several complaints of thefts were reported regarding such places last week.

Several lodges at Maradana, Borella, and Pettah have been searched and several prostitutes who have stolen valuables from their clients arrested with the commencement of the festive season, a senior police officer told the Sunday Observer.

Maradana police have recovered a gold chain stolen by a prostitute from a man after they checked into a lodge at Maradana. The man from Balangoda had come to Colombo after collecting his pay and bonuses only to be robbed by a prostitute, police said.

The man had complained to the Maradana police that the woman whom he had met at the Pettah bus stand stole cash worth Rs. 300,000 and his gold chain at the lodge.

Another man had complained to the Pettah police that someone had picked his pocket containing Rs. 150,000 while he was in Pettah.

The Colombo Crime Division launched an operation a fortnight ago to nab pickpockets operating during the festive season. Three women IRCs from Wennappuwa were arrested in Colombo along with 20 criminals who have been issued with warrants by Courts. Three police teams have been deployed in six police zones in Colombo to keep a lookout for pickpockets.