A telephone call received on the mobile phone of a gangster, during a recent robbery, led to the arrest of four persons responsible for a series of raids in Colombo and its suburbs over a period of time. The caller is believed to be a member of the gang, waiting outside as his colleagues stormed the targeted residence.

This is believed to have helped the police to establish their identity.

Acting on information obtained from a witness to the robbery, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) trapped four of the six-member gang and recovered a part of the loot, The Island learns. CCD chief SSP Sarath Lugoda confirmed the arrest of four suspects-two Muslims, a Tamil and a Sinhalese. He declined to reveal the circumstances leading to the arrest.

The CCD launched the investigation on a directive of IGP Chandra Fernando following the raid on a wealthy doctor's Kollupitiya residence in the early hours of February 26. The gang forced the doctor to hand over Rs. 4.5 million in cash, two cellular phones, and jewellery worth about a million rupees and the keys to his luxury Prado. The doctor told the local police the gang seized his son and then threatened to harm him unless the family cooperated. At the time of the robbery there had been several visitors at the doctor's residence. Subsequent investigations revealed the pistol carried by one of the gangsters was a toy.

According to Lugoda the gang used the Prado to get away from the scene. The vehicle was found two days later.

"We are looking for the two remaining members of the gang," Lugoda said, adding that his officers recovered Rs. 1.7 million and the two cellular phones taken from the doctor. The gang spent a part of the loot to buy some jewellery, a cellular phone and some furniture, he said.

Under interrogation, the suspects admitted their involvement in at least three more robberies. During a raid on a rich businessman's Ward Place residence two of the gangsters raped a 40-year-old woman servant employed by the businessman. They got away with Rs 2. 5 million. The Ward Place robbery was reported on February 5.

They also carried out two robberies at Kolonnawa (on December 30 last year) and Mount Lavinia (October 12 last year). They got away with over Rs. 3. 5 million worth cash and jewellery, Lugoda said, adding that after carrying out the Kolonnawa robbery they used the victim's Prado to get away. The vehicle was found abandoned later.

Investigations revealed that jewellery had been sold to two Tamil businessmen operating at Sea street. They are believed to be suppliers to major jewellery shops dealing in stolen gold.