Thiruneelakudi police have arrested Shanthi, 62, of Thirunageswaram on charges of snatching a gold chain from an elderly woman residing in the same area.
According to sources, Shanthi visited the house of Thavamani, 75, on Kumbakonam-Karaikal Main Road on Sunday on the pretext of renting a portion of her house. While they were talking, she allegedly took out a knife and threatened the house-owner, who was living alone, to part with her gold chain.
When Thavamani refused, Shanthi snatched the chain and threw chilli powder on her face when she resisted. Thiruneelakudi police registered a case and tracked Shanthi using video footage collected from nearby shops. She was arrested on Monday and remanded to judicial custody, sources said.