UAE-based Kerala family foils robbery attempt at their Kannur home using CCTV

Kannur: A seemingly perfect setup for a robbery—an empty house, the cover of night, and a quiet neighborhood—was foiled by a UAE-settled Malayali family using CCTV surveillance. Thieves, believing they had the upper hand, walked right in but were caught off guard by a sudden flash of lights and noise, prompting them to abort their mission and flee the scene. This dramatic incident occurred at Meethele, Kunnothparamba near Panoor in the Kannur district.

Sunil Babu is still reeling from the shock of the attempted robbery at his native home. He recounted the ordeal with a mixture of relief and lingering anxiety. It was his wife who first noticed the suspicious movement on the premises around 9 pm on July 3. She received a notification on her phone alerting her to unusual activity at their house in Kannur. Concerned, she quickly checked the live feed from their CCTV cameras and saw two individuals trying to break into the house.

Sunil Babu moved to the UAE about 30 years ago, seeking better opportunities for himself and his family. In 2009, he relocated his entire family to the UAE. To ensure the safety and security of their residence back home, they had installed CCTV cameras around the property.

“My wife received a notification about suspicious activity at our residence,” Sunil Babu explained. “When she checked the CCTV visuals, she saw two people attempting to break the back grill. She immediately informed me, and when I checked the camera, I saw that the robbers had covered it with a piece of cloth. My wife quickly called a neighbor and informed them about the intruders. The neighbors then turned on all the lights in their house and made noise to scare off the robbers. Realizing they had been detected, the robbers fled the scene.”

Sunil also contacted his relatives, who in turn alerted the police. The authorities responded promptly, arriving at the house soon after the incident. They conducted a thorough investigation, gathering evidence with the assistance of a dog squad and forensic experts the following day.

The local police, led by the Kolavalloor station, have since intensified their efforts to track down the culprits. “We have intensified the investigation to catch the robbers involved in this attempt. The police have collected all the evidence from the scene, and the investigation is based on the CCTV visuals,” stated a representative from the Kolavalloor police.

The family’s quick thinking and the efficient response of their neighbors played a crucial role in averting what could have been a significant loss. The incident underscores the importance of community vigilance and the effective use of technology in enhancing security measures. As the investigation continues, Sunil Babu and his family remain grateful for the timely intervention that prevented the robbery and ensured their property’s safety.