THANJAVUR: An unidentified thief snatched chains, weighing eight sovereigns, from two women who were sleeping at their house near Thanjavur, in the early hours today, and made a good escape.

51-year-old Gunasundari, residing at Marungai village near Thanjavur, along with her daughter Thilagavathi (29), was sleeping at home when the unidentified thief gained entry into the house by breaking open its lock.

Sensing the presence and movement of a stranger near her, Thilagavathi woke up and raised an alarm by screaming ‘thief…thief’. Before their neighbours came to their rescue, the thief snatched the chains of Thilagavathi and her mother Gunasundari, each weighing 4 sovereigns, and escaped.

Based on a complaint, the Thanjavur taluk police have registered a case and a search is on for the unidentified thief.