Bengaluru police arrest chain-snatching gang from Maharashtra

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police have arrested a Maharashtra-based chain-snatching gang led by a habitual offender, who was previously jailed under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The arrest followed an incident on March 3, when two suspects led by Shahid, 34, approached an elderly woman on Jayamahal Main Road under the pretext of asking for directions and fled with her gold chain.

Shahid, the prime suspect, is a repeat offender who was imprisoned under MCOCA and released in January this year. Soon after his release, he regrouped with relatives to form a new gang. They purchased a second-hand motorcycle, tampered with its registration number to avoid detection, and travelled to Bengaluru. While Shahid and an accomplice carried out the theft on the bike, two others followed in a car to aid in their escape.

The police said the gang targeted elderly residents by scouting residential areas and identifying vulnerable individuals. The March 3 robbery was executed in a similar manner and was captured on CCTV.

Acting on the victim’s complaint, investigators reviewed over 150 CCTV clips to trace the suspects. Their efforts revealed that the gang had escaped to Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur, where they handed over the stolen jewellery to an accomplice waiting in the car.

Further analysis of surveillance footage and call detail records led the police to the original owner of the car used in the crime. This crucial lead helped them track the suspects across multiple locations.

The gang was eventually located in Mysuru near Bannimantap, where they were preparing for another robbery. All four — Shahid, Shabbir, Tanveer, and Ali Naki — were taken into custody.

With their arrest, the police have solved at least three chain-snatching cases.