Burglars stole 57 sovereigns of gold and cash from four houses in Tiruchi on Monday night.

The first burglary happened in Balaji Nagar. Sridhar, 55, a Corporation employee, had locked his house and gone to work. His wife, Muthuselvi, 50, who had been away, returned home to find the front door broken. Inside, the burglars had opened the bedroom cupboard and stolen 22 sovereigns of gold jewellery and ₹5,000 in cash.

After she reported the crime, the Kollidam police arrived and started an investigation.

A second case was reported in Rayar Thoppu. Selvakumar, 58, a driver in the Agriculture Department, and his family had been to a temple in Kumbakonam. When they returned, they found their house ransacked. The burglars had broken the locks and taken away 35 sovereigns of gold jewellery and silver items from the puja room.

Meanwhile, two residents from Amirtha Nagar, Karthigaivel, 36, and Anand, 40, also reported attempted break-ins at their homes while they were away. They filed complaints at the Kollidam police station.

The police believe the burglars specifically targeted empty houses. A case has been registered, and the Kollidam police are investigating.