“ Unlike northern states, where cops book chain snatching cases as petty crime, down south, especially Mysore, police treat such cases as serious offence”. This is the often reiterated statement of Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal. And, they have a strong reason to say so, if one takes a glimpse of the crime graph. Up to September 2010, a total of 82 cases of chain snatching have been reported against 95 registered in the whole of 2009 and 61 in 2008.
Why does this particular type of robbery soar year after year? The reasons are many, according to the police. Recently, Saraswathipuram police arrested two youth solving eight cases in one go. Though their modus operandi wasn’t anything unique, what stunned the cops was their ‘agreement’. The duo had an unsigned understanding among themselves.
“The rider will have 60 per cent share in the amount earned after disposing off the stolen booty, while the pillion will be eligible for the remaining 40 per cent”. You may be wondering, just like cops did, why should the rider walk away with more? The duo told the cops, the rider has the tough job of vrooming past, come what may in between, soon after the pillion rider yanks off the chain. This would make a fine example for the reckless life the youth are leading.
With three more months left for the crime graph of the corresponding year to complete, cops are unsure of preventing it, if not detecting. Considering the spurt in chain snatching cases, first week of October itself is an indication that the crime is here to stay. If it continues at the same pace, no doubt, it may cross century mark, they feel.
Barring the year 2009, when 29 of the total 95 cases had been cracked, cops seem to have found it tough to crack the rest. In 2008, 18 of 61 cases had been solved. Of 82 cases registered in 10 months this year, only four have been detected.
What’s been adding to cops worry, is youngsters in large numbers developing a passion for lifting chains, aiming at fast bucks again. Of the three youth caught in separate cases recently, two were students, adding to cops’ worry.