Chain snatchers continue to thrive

Unabated:

Increasing chain snatching cases have been giving nightmare to cops. It’s evident with already 43 cases reported in first quarter (Jan to Feb 2011). In the corresponding period of previous years, the cases were recorded at 29 (in 2010) and 18 (2009).

Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal told media here on Wednesday, though the city police have made considerable progress in cracking the cases in the same duration, yet chain snatchers continue to pose challenge.

Of the total ` 70.26 lakh worth property stolen in the first quarter of 2009, only ` 6.67 lakh could be recovered, that was even below 10 per cent of the booty.

Quantum leap

The following year saw a quantum leap, with a total of ` 46.78 lakh worth good recovered among the total stolen property valued at ` 1.30 crore. It was seven times more compared to 2009. In the prevailing year, among the stolen property worth ` 1.24 crore, property worth `  85.56 lakh have been recovered and articles worth ` 25.54 lakh have been returned to the complainants. Also, for the first time in the history of State Police, the city cops are receiving a cash prize of ` eight lakh.

Reward

The chief office in Bangalore has announced the prize, that would be distributed among the cops for their feat in the line of duty. They are 592 civil police constables, 326 head constables, 215 assistant sub-inspectors and 180 sub-inspectors.

The police commissioner returned the property to the complainants at the parade organised at his office grounds later DCPs Basavaraj Malagathi, P Rajendra Prasad and M N Prabhashankar were present.