Aspiring cricketers turn chain snatchers

Two young aspiring cricketers, who were unable to pay for coaching classes, took to chain snatching and ended up becoming habitual offenders.

According to the police, suspects Naveen Shetty (19) and Balakumar (19) had robbed 22 chains, worth Rs 20 lakh.

Shetty is an autorickshaw driver and Balakumar works as a salesman at Richmond Circle.

According to the police, they became friends while playing cricket at a playground in Kariyannapalya. Hoping to make it big in cricket, they wanted to join the Karnataka Institute of Cricket, a coaching centre, on Commercial Street. They were told to pay Rs 30,000 as joining fees and get their own cricket kits. They approached Sagai, a habitual offender, to borrow money. However, Sagai trained them to steal while riding vehicles, the police said.

Shetty and Balakumar then stole a two-wheeler, which they used to commit the crimes. Soon, they forgot their goal of becoming cricketers and took to stealing to lead a life of luxury.

“They robbed as many as 22 people over the past eight months to amass over Rs 20 lakh worth of jewellery,” S D Sharanappa, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), said.

A special team of police officers analysed CCTV footage and zeroed in on two men riding a scooter in green and black jackets. The team alerted the patrolling police of the south division, who arrested the suspects on Sunday.

The police confiscated 900 grams of gold worth Rs 27,00,000 and the stolen scooter from the suspects.