In a daring attempt, unidentified miscreants gained entry into a jewellery mart at Ponnammapettai in the city limits and escaped with 87 sovereign gold jewellery, 20 kg of silver ornaments and Rs. one lakh cash on Saturday afternoon.

Srinivasan, of Mannarpalayam, is running a jewellery mart in Kanagaraja Ganapathi Temple Street in Ponnammapettai for the last six years. He went to his home for lunch in the afternoon. When he returned to the shop at about 3.30 p.m., he found items strewn inside the shop and jewellery and cash missing.

Ammapettai police registered a case and launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. R. Ramakrishnan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, crime and traffic, visited the shop.