Silver articles weighing about four kgs and valued at about Rs.two lakh and Rs.92,000 cash were looted by an unidenfitied person from a merchant last night in front of jewellery in the city.

The person, Subramani hailing from Sevvaipet in Salem had come to sell the silver articles–2.5 kg of ornaments and one and half kg bars in a shop in the city last night, police said.

As he was not satisfied with the prices, he got down from the shop, as a person told him that there was some insect on the collar of his shirt.

The moment Subramani kept his bag containing silver articles on the ground to remove the insect, the person took the bag and ran from the area, police said.

Based on complaint, police are trying to nab the culprit, with the help of CCTV available on the street, they said.