Hyderabad: A gang of five ex-convicts involved in chain snatching and robbing pedestrians at night were caught by the West Zone Task Force on Thursday. Officials said that the robbers always went to commit offences in twos. One showed a knife and threatened the victims and the other snatched the valuables. They also targeted lorry drivers and cleaners who park their vehicles to rest between their shifts and robbed them.
The apprehended men were identified as Mohd. So hail Qureshi, 21, Mohd.Afroz Khan, 19, Mohd.Feroz Ali, 18, Mohd. Aleemuddin alias Arbaz, 19 and a 16-year-old minor. Police said gang member Faisal, 20, was absconding. The gang committed 10 snatchings in the limits of Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerates.
Officials seized two bikes, four handbags, four purses, one laptop bag, eight cell phones, one knife and '32,850, said the DCP, Commissioner’s Task Force, P. Radhakrishna Rao.
“All five are friends for the past two to three years and decided to earn easy money. From January, they have been snatching bags, purses and cell phones in Hyderabad and Cyberabad limits. They select persons who are walking or biking in lanes and bylanes. The rider suddenly stops the bike near the victim and the pillion rider flashes a knife and snatches valuables from the victims. Both then flee from the spot,” said the official.
Police said Qureshi was the kingpin of the gang. As their income was not sufficient to meet their lavish expenses and addictions to alcohol, the gang decided to commit property offences. They have committed offences in the limits of Rajendranagar, Shankarpally and Shadnagar police stations.
In August 2018, Qureshi, Feroz Ali, Mannan and his associates were arrested by the Rajendranagar police in extortion and robbery cases.
“After a month, the gang was released from jail and again hatched plans to commit crimes. On Thursday, based on credible information, the gang was apprehended at Tolichowki and the stolen property was recovered,” said the DCP.
