The gang gained entry into the shop last evening by threatening the security staff with a sickle. Later, they forcibly took the locker key from the woman employee and robbed about five kgs of gold jewellery and cash from the locker, police said today.
The alert woman pressed the alarm attracting the attention of the passers by. In the ensuing fight between an employee of the shop and traffic police with the gang members, the bag containing the booty torn off and some jewels lay scattered.
The arrested persons confessed to have pledged their jewels in the Paramakudi branch of the pawn shop as they suffered losses in their business but could not recover it due to high rate of usury charged by them. Since the firm coerced them to pay back the loan, they decided to loot the branch to take revenge on them. But their plan failed.
One person who had picked up the scattered jewels and escaped, was also arrested by the police.
All the jewels had been recovered, they said.