Malappuram: The Kottakkal Police on Monday arrested a two-member robbery gang that was targetting locked houses in the Malappuram district during the Puja holidays.

Vattallur native Kalathodan Abdul Kareem (40) and Puliyamadathil Abdul Latheef (31) were arrested from a rented house at Mariyad near Manjeri.

Kareem and Latheef had stolen 11 sovereigns of gold, Rs 76,000 in cash and a scooter from a house at Mulapparambu near Kottakkal on October 16. According to the police, the duo has committed numerous robberies and had been out on bail just two weeks ago.

Kottakkal Station House Officer Aswith S Karamayil said the duo had no special tactics, they just burgled houses that were locked up.

“Abdul Kareem will mostly execute the robbery while Latheef would drop him at the house and then return to pick him up,” said the SHO. They had a two-wheeler that they used to move around at night. “They have been involved in a large number of similar cases within the state and maybe outside the state as well. We are investigating,” said Inspector Karamayil.

Malappuram District Police Chief S Sujith Das had set up a team to probe the cases involving the duo. The team comprises DySP P Abdul Basheer, Kottakkal Inspector Aswith S Karamayil and the members of the DANSAF squad.