Super app: Kerala man foils robbery in Mahe via mobile from New Zealand

Mahe: It's not every day you hear about homeowners witnessing a robbery in progress at their own residence, especially from thousands of miles away. But that's exactly what happened to K.O. Shashi Prakash, a Mahe native living in New Zealand when he discovered a robbery attempt at his locked house on Mahe Railway Station Road.

At 5:30 AM in New Zealand, Prakash decided to check on his vacant Mahe home via his mobile CCTV app. To his shock, he saw burglars in his compound. A quick double-check of his phone screen confirmed his worst fears: someone had already broken through the front door and entered the house.

He immediately called his brother, Sarosh Kandoth, who lives nearby. Sarosh quickly alerted the neighbours, while Prakash informed the Mahe police.

By the time Mahe Sub-Inspector K.C. Ajayakumar arrived, locals had already surrounded the house. Police entered the residence and, after a thorough search, found the thief, Anil Kumar (39), hiding under a bed. Kumar, a native of Chikkamagaluru, is accused of several theft cases in Karnataka and Kerala. He was taken into custody and has since been remanded by the Mahe court.

Prakash, an Abu Dhabi-based rig worker, was in New Zealand with his wife, visiting their daughter and her family. Their other daughter resides in the US. Sarosh Kandoth, who operates La Pharma Pharmaceuticals in Mahe, noted that the area's inexpensive liquor and the railway station's accessibility make it an attractive target for thieves seeking a quick getaway after committing crimes.