A bizarre case has emerged from Ernakulam district in Kerala, where a former student of Maharaja College tried to steal as many as eight beds from the college hostel using a hired pickup van. What raised eyebrows even more is that the accused turned up at the hostel with the vehicle in the early hours of the morning, only to be caught after the hostel warden grew suspicious of his story.
Who is the accused, and what triggered the case
Police said the incident took place on Sunday morning, when a former student was caught trying to steal beds from the Maharaja College hostel. The man has been identified as Anston, a resident of Angamaly in Ernakulam district. Anston had completed his BSc in Botany from the same college in 2024. In other words, the accused was not a stranger but a former student who was well aware of the hostel's setup and its daily routine.
The repair excuse and the loaded van
According to police, Anston arrived at the hostel around 5 am, a time when most students are still asleep and there is little activity around. He told the students present that he had come to take away beds for repair work. Using this excuse to gain their trust, he began dismantling several beds. He eventually pulled apart eight beds and loaded them onto a goods vehicle, which he had rented through an online service rather than through a shop, suggesting the plan had been worked out in advance.
The warden's suspicion blows the lid off
It was at this point that the hostel warden grew suspicious of the entire operation. The warden asked Anston to show any document authorising him to take the beds away. Anston could not give a satisfactory answer, which only deepened the warden's doubts. The warden then promptly alerted the college administration and informed the police.
Police seize the van and begin questioning
As soon as they received information, a police team reached the hostel and took Anston into custody, taking him to the Ernakulam Central police station for questioning. The goods vehicle used to carry the beds was also seized by police. When investigators examined Anston's mobile phone, they found that he had been in contact with some students currently studying at the college. This has raised suspicion that the case may not be limited to a single attempted theft of beds. Police said a detailed investigation is underway and that Anston's formal arrest will be recorded soon.
