Chennai: The police on Thursday arrested a 23-year-old man who trained juveniles in his area to break into locked houses and shops. Seven minor boys were also picked up along with the man and sent to the Government Boys' Home in Kelly’s.

The accused, N.Ghouse Basha, was picked up from his residence in Hussain Nagar, Royapettah, by a special team, based on a tip off, the police said. Investigations revealed that Ghouse Basha had trained juvenile boys in the Sardar Jung Garden area in Royapettah for break-ins and shared the booty among them. “All the boys are school dropouts and were involved in the break-ins along with Ghouse Basha for the past one year,” Anna Salai inspector Shankar said.

Police tracked down Ghouse Basha in relation to a break-in in the house of M.Mushtaq Ahmed at Royapettah where 21 sovereigns were looted. Further investigations revealed that he was involved in several break-ins in and around the neighbourhood. “The gang, operating on two wheelers, roamed around and broke into cell phone accessories shops and other petty shops in the night and locked houses during the daytime. They shared the booty among themselves and sold the mobile phone accessories in Burma Bazaar,” a police officer said.