Hyderabad: Bag snatchers are now targeting women travelling in bikes, autos and other public transports in the city, fleeing with expensive mobile phones, cash and other valuables. Hyderabad city police maintained a tight vigil and deputed anti-snatching teams to curb the chain snatchers but the men fleeing with women’s handbags is the new modus operandi.
This method of operation surfaced after the Sangareddy Police busted an inter-state gang involved in 14 cases of snatching bags from unsuspecting people visiting banks earlier in January this year. The police arrested three of the six member gang, who rented a place in Zaheerabad and were solely targeting those visiting banks.
The six members Banala Chinna, Banala Michael, Pitla Premkumar, Akula Vijay, Ajit and Chinna hail from Kapparaltippa in Bitragunta mandal of Nellore district. They had committed crimes in Sangareddy and various parts of Andhra Pradesh as well as in Karnataka and Maharashtra, robbing people to the tune of '16 lakh.
Earlier this month, H. Parveen, was returning home with his family in an auto rickshaw after attending a wedding at Rajendra Nagar when two bike-borne men snatched their bag. “While the family was heading back home after crossing Bandlaguda, two bike-borne men approached the auto, which was crowded and the bag was hanging slightly out, and snatched away the bag, which contained gold and Rs 4,000 cash,” said the police inspector of Chandrayangutta, Y. Prakash Reddy, adding that the gang seems to be from the northern states of the country.
Revealing their modus operandi, police further said that while a couple of members of the gang divert the attention of their victims, the other associates snatched their cash bags and flee or they simply snatch away the bags from women.
While the city police has taken an initiative to curb chain snatchings in the city by deploying teams, an action on this new method is officially yet to be taken.
The police also gave some tips to avoid such incidents.
People have to be alert and aware and pay attention to who is around when they are in public place. Avoid text messaging and talking on the phone while walking alone, they said.
People should also avoid displaying and carrying large sums of money or valuable jewellery in public places.
At night, people should avoid taking shortcuts through deserted areas such as parks, playgrounds and vacant lots. Do not allow a stranger to follow you to your doorstep, the police said.
