One common crime haunting Bangaloreans, especially women, is undoubtedly chain snatching. Facts provided by the City police, just leave one dazed: on an average, three chain snatching incidents reported every week. Value of the jewellry snatched amounts to more than Rs 1.5 crore a year. More than 30 per cent of the cases go undetected. Majority of the chain snatchers, usually aged between 20 and 25, have made this their ‘business’. Even minors were found involved in this crime.

 The police say that chain snatching and two-wheeler theft are inter-related as the accused use stolen bikes for chain snatching.

The first chain snatching incident in City was reported in 1983.  The police had launched ‘Operation Tiger’ as the two people were striking with regularity. The had announced a reward of RS 48,000 for constables nabbing the duo. Finally, BB Ashok Kumar, then inspector and now ACP Halasuru Gate sub-division, arrested them on October 24, 1984.

Targets
The police say that housewives of middle class families are the main targets of the chain snatchers. They mostly strike either  late in the evenings or early mornings. Women alone on the way to milk parlours, temples, houses of neighbours or those bringing back children from schools or returning home from walks in residential areas fall prey to the culprits. Sometimes, the accused carry out their crimes during mid-day creating a fear psychosis among the public. They strike at secluded places, mostly in poorly-lit areas to avoid identification. They complete the act within seconds and disappear in the crowd or in the darkness.

Modus operandi
Normally, the accused come on a motorcycle and snatch the chains. Sometimes, the pillion rider gets off, snatches chains and escapes on the motorcycle on which his ‘business partner’ is waiting at a distance. In some cases, the robbers come from behind, accost the victims, threaten them with knives and make good their escape. In rare cases, they come in the guise of policemen, direct women to remove jewellry and hand ornaments over to them to avoid the jewellry being snatched. Normally, women believe them to be policemen and hand over the valuables. If they refuse to oblige, the robbers threaten them and forcibly take their jewellry and abscond.
Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Gopal B Hosur says chain snatching incidents are increasing as this offence was very easy to commit due to anonymity. Detection is less largely because many of the culprits are outsiders - from Tumkur, Hosur, Kolar and even Kerala. Once they complete their task, they return and sell the booty for small amounts in their native places.

Moreover, the accused get bail easily and come out.  “However, the number of chain snatching incidents in Bangalore is less than in other metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata”, he says.

The patrolling has to be strengthened in isolated areas. More teams need to be deployed in those localities which are vulnerable for such crime, he says.

Inspector M P Saravgol says women are partly to be blamed because  “criminals are tempted by the manner in which women exhibit gold jewellery. Programmes organised by the police to create awareness among women about this crime have not helped much as women continue to wear jewellery and go out at night”.
Change of life style is a major factor for increasing chain snatching incidents. Standard of living in Bangalore is higher than in other cities and more slums have come up in the recent past. Unemployed or poor teenage boys observe the lifestyle of the rich and resorted to this crime to make a fast buck, he added.

WHAT THEY SAY...

Women are generally fond of gold. We want to have more and more gold ornaments. I wear more gold jewels only on special occasions like attending marriages.

On such occasions I will be more cautious. Many women have the habit of showing off their ornaments and that certainly lures chain snatchers. Many areas in Bangalore city look deserted by evening and that  suits the chain  snatchers.

In front of my residence in BTM layout a lady lost her chain at 7.30 p m a few years ago. Women should be careful and avoid going out with ornaments in dark hours.

Parvathi Thimmaiah, member-secretary,
Karnataka State Women Commission


I have witnessed many incidents of chain snatching in packed BMTC buses. Recently in a Malleswaram-bound bus one of my co-passengers lost her chain. As the bus was completely packed she did not realise that she lost her chain till she got off the bus. I avoid gold ornaments while travelling, particularly in packed city buses.

Bhuvaneshwari,
computer operator, BBMP

I am fond of wearing gold ornaments. But I avoid showing it off in public. As long as women hide their ornaments in busy public places I don’t think there would be any instance of chain snatching.
Swamyamprabha,
assistant executive engineer, BBMP

Women should avoid exposing jewellry as far as possible. They should not wear ornaments while walking in desolate areas. Ratio between public and police is less and hence it is extremely difficult to deploy forces in all the desolate, poorly-lit and extension areas. They should pin ornaments to dresses properly.

Geeta Kulkarni, Inspector,
All Women's police station, Halasuru Gate

The population has increased so also the number of chain snatching incidents. The crime happens because of sheer negligence of women. Many women wear jewellry and go outside during late evenings. They also pass through desolate and poorly-lit areas alone making it easy for the culprits to indulge in crime.

Gunamma,  senior head constable,
All Women's police station, Halasuru Gate

Women should avoid wearing jewellery while going out for walk. They should try to learn martial arts for self-protection. Police should release the list of areas prone to chain snatching.

Sumathi M Hiremath, housewife

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

*Avoid taking a stroll alone.
*Avoid wearing gold chains while going out at night.
*Avoid walks in desolate and poorly-lit areas.
*Avoid venturing outside home after evening unless it is necessary.