KOCHI: In a throwback to the 2007 Malappuram gold heist, the place burglars famously drilled in the course of the surface of Kerala Gramin Financial institution to thieve 80kg of gold, a thief in Aluva lately attempted the similar tactic – this time, to thieve coconut oil. Despite the fact that the digging strive failed, he nonetheless controlled to flee with 30 litres of oil.With cooking oil costs hovering forward of Onam later this month, coconut oil is being handled nearly like a luxurious merchandise & grocery shops have began locking it up like treasure. In contemporary weeks, the cost of coconut oil in Kerala has just about doubled from round Rs 260 to over Rs 500 a litre.When grocery retailer proprietor Ayoob Puthanpurayil arrived at his store in Ernakulam on Sunday, he discovered it ransacked. Thirty one-litre bottles of virgin coconut oil, priced at Rs 600 each and every, had been lacking, together with a couple of packs of gingelly oil, apples, and milk.“There was once Rs 5,000 within the check in or even a charity field – each untouched,” he mentioned. “The actual loss was once oil. It was once value thrice extra.”The thief had attempted to dig in in the course of the sand at the back of the store – a floor-level break-in strive harking back to the Malappuram heist – however was once thwarted through a plywood sheet put in to dam rats. He in the end broke in thru a slender again door, most likely restricting how a lot he may lift.“He will have to have labored for hours in low gentle to get that some distance,” Puthanpurayil mentioned. The store was once locked on 3 aspects, one out of view from the street.Proof confirmed the thief lingered inside of. Curd packets had been opened and partially eaten; empty water bottles lay scattered. Puthanpurayil mentioned it was once the fourth such strive within the space. Despite the fact that he had CCTV photos, he did not pursue a case as police stored mentioning procedures. Police mentioned no formal grievance was once filed.