JOIN USPolice form seven teams to nab chain snatchers
The City police have constituted seven teams to check the increasing cases of chain-snatchings and nab the gangs behind such acts.
A high-level meeting chaired by Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) P Harishekharan on Thursday discussed measures to curb chain snatchings. Harishekharan directed three DCPs, in whose jurisdiction the incidents of chain- snatchings are on the rise, to take strict measures and act tough against those involved in chain-snatchings.
The City witnessed as many as 17 chain-snatching incidents in less than 48 hours of Tuesday and Wednesday. Eight chain-snatchings took place in a span of less than three hours in West Division.
The chain-snatching incidents created embarrassing moments for the City police as the police department is observing crime prevention month in December. Moreover, Harishekharan had submitted a detailed report recommending measures to curb incidents of chain-snatching just a month ago, said sources in the department.
Despite all police stations implementing the 22-point programme suggested by Harishekharan, incidents of chain- snatching are on the rise, added the sources.
Gang from other state
“The investigation carried out so far has suggested involvement of those from outside Karnataka,” said a senior police officer. There are a few gangs active in this type of crime operating from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The modus operandi adopted by miscreants who robbed women on Tuesday and Wednesday is similar to that of these gangs, he added.
The gangs come to the City for a brief period. They stay here for a couple of days and commit as many chain-snatchings as possible and escape to their native places. They steal bikes parked in parking lots or outside homes in the night and use them to commit the crime. They park such bikes in any of the parking lots before leaving the City, he added.
Commenting on the crime, Police Commissioner M N Reddi said the police suspected involvement of a gang active in a north Indian state. He said the police are working on definite leads and would arrest the gang members soon.
The police are analysing CCTV footage at various junctions to gather more information about a black colour Pulsar bike that was used by two men to snatch chains.
The police are also analysing registration numbers of a few black colour Pulsar bikes. The City witnessed 325 chain- snatchings in 2010, 342 in 2011, 352 in 2012 and 329 in 2013. The number of chain-snatchings reported in 2014 till November is 421.