Kochi, Aug 7
With coconut and coconut oil prices touching record highs in Kerala ahead of Onam, a reported coconut oil theft from a grocery shop near Kochi has drawn public attention.
A shop in Aluva, about 30 km from Kochi, is the target of a theft where an unidentified accused made off with 30 bottles of coconut oil and other provisions after an initial failed attempt to break in by drilling through the shop’s floor, according to a local media report on Thursday.
The price of one kilogram of coconut ranges from Rs 80 to Rs 100, while coconut oil costs between Rs 500 and Rs 600 per kg across Kerala.
Coconut and coconut oil are integral to daily life in Kerala, but their record prices have already strained household budgets, especially with the Onam festival approaching.
The incident occurred at the vegetable and fruit shop near the Thottumugham bridge in Aluva. The shop owner, identified as Ayoob, found the break-in on Wednesday morning.
When contacted, the Aluva East police, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, said they were aware of the incident but had not received a formal complaint to begin an investigation.