Chain snatching spree continues in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Though the police have increased patrolling in the city following 10 chain snatching incidents in the city, three more such incidents were reported even on Friday. In the first incident reported around 10 am, two bike-borne miscreants snatched the gold chain weighing 100 grams worth around Rs 2.5 lakh from Indira, 60, a resident of Doddanekkundi near HAL.

The incident took place when she was returning home from a nearby temple. When she was close to her house, a person approached her on the pretext of enquiring about an address and snatched her chain before escaping on a bike along with his associate.

Police said around 11 am the same two chain snatchers struck in Munekolala in HAL snatched a chain, weighing 60 grams, from Rajeshwari, 50. The incident took place when Rajeshwari was standing in front of her house and talking to a neighbour. The act has been captured in the CCTV footage but the visuals are not clear, the HAL police, who have registered cases in connection with these two incidents.

In the third incident reported in J P Nagar second stage around 2.30 pm, two bike borne men snatched a 60 gram gold chain from Bhanumati, 62, when she came out of her house to pick her grandson, who returned from school in the school vehicle. J P Nagar police have registered a case.

Meanwhile, another women has lost her gold chain as she fell unconscious but it is not clear whether it was a case of chain snatching. Hemavati, a resident of Yelahanka Old Town, fell unconscious when she was cleaning a vacant site near her house. Some people came to her rescue and took her home after which she realised her chain was missing. Though she did not file a complaint, the police have taken up a suo-motu case and are investigating.

Top cops call for greater vigil

Senior police officials have ordered that all policemen should be on patrolling compulsorily. “We have directed all the cops to be on rounds without fail. Only two policemen should be there at the police station, one to receive complaints and the other to do office work. Even the traffic policemen have been directed to check all suspicious vehicles,” a senior police officer said.

Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi held a meeting with the senior police officers on Friday evening to discuss measures to prevent such incidents. After the meeting, Reddi told reporters, “We have definite clues on the chain snatchers and they will be arrested soon. Various special teams including the CCB sleuths are on the job to trace them. A team is already in Belagavi while another team will go to Maharashtra as part of the probe.”

The police are also sharing the CCTV footage of the chain snatchers roaming on a Black Pulsar bearing registration no. 7920. However, the face of the accused was not clear and the police requested the public to provide information if they come across the vehicle.

Further, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) P Harisekaran held a meeting with pawn brokers and jewellers in Banasawadi and warned them that strict action will be taken if they received stolen gold valuables from chain snatchers and other offenders. Around 250 pawn brokers and jewellers took part in the meeting.