05 March,2011 06:34 AM IST | | Ketan Ranga
After 2,044 cases of chain snatching last year, cops suspect same gang of thieves has surfaced again; targets women with bags, gold chains
The police have launched a massive manhunt for a gang of motorcycle-borne thieves who seem to have perfected snatching bags and chains to a science.
The gang of about six, cops said, has mastered the act of snatching from women in broad daylight, mostly from women going to or returning from work, while riding fast-paced bikes on the city's crowded streets.
The pillion rider on the bike snatched the bag from Priyanka who was in the rickshaw. She clasped the bag, but he refused to let go.
After last year saw 2,044 such cases reported in police stations across the city, cops had zeroed on a big gang and caught a number of the bike thieves.
But now, there have been a spurt in the cases again and cops feel that it is the same miscreants at work.
"Most of motorcycle-borne thieves have previous crime records. We believe it is the same elements at play, as most of them are out on bail or have completed their jail terms," said a senior official.
"The snatching incidents are reported mostly in the western suburbs, concentrated around Juhu and adjacent areas. As such, a dragnet has been laid down in the region particularly after an incident in Juhu (see box)."
According to sources, the major problem in nabbing them, despite numerous strikes (see box), is that no one can identify them: they always wear helmets and employ such quick reflexes while snatching that their victims are not able to see them or even note down their bike numbers. In all the cases, their tactics remain unchanged, policemen observed.
"The gang strikes every fortnight, in spots like traffic signals and street corners, which give them enough time to halt, rob, and speed away," the official said.
Nonetheless, cops claim that they will nab them soon.
Cases
In an incident less than a month ago, Monica Rohira, who works for a shipping company, was in a rickshaw near JW Marriot.
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"I was talking to a person with me in the rickshaw when a well-built young man in a red t-shirt, wearing a helmet, snatched my bag. I tried to hold on to it, but he pulled it so hard that I had to let go or I would have fallen out. I had Rs 60,000 in the bag," Rohira said.
Last year, Dindoshi resident Anita Gaikwad lost her gold chain to snatchers near Hub Mall in Goregaon East. The bikers spat on Anita as soon as her rickshaw slowed down and fled away after snatching her chain.
Official speaks
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IX) KMM Prasanna said, "There are a few suspects whom we have identified and traced. We will nab them soon.
He yanked it from her hard enough to pull her out of the rickshaw, the bike dragging her along for
a few metres, until it finally sped away.
They are the ones arrested earlier and are now out on bail or have finished sentences in prison. They strike every fortnight, and when they do, they attack three to four victims in the same day. Their modus operandi is the same."
Bikers snatch bag, drag woman with it
ON Wednesday night, Sapna Agarwal was on her way from Andheri station to Juhu in a rickshaw.
When she reached Juhu-Versova link road, opposite to Citi Care hospital, the pillion rider on a motorbike tried to snatch her bag. She clasped on to it, but he yanked it out of her grip, pulling her out of the moving rickshaw.
She still didn't let go. Nor did the bikers. They dragged her along for a few metres, until the handle gave way. The thieves sped away with the bag, as Agarwal could do nothing but nurse the bruises on her hands, legs and back.
u00a0
"It happened so fast that I was not able to see their faces or take down the bike number. I had Rs 5,000 in cash, a recorder and a few other things. A lot of my work-related papers were in the bag. I lost it all," she said.
When she complained to the Juhu police, she was told that there have been a number of such cases.
A police officer from Juhu police
said, "We have deputed police vehicles at the spots where such cases are on the rise so we can catch the thieves in the act of the crime.
We have formed a u00a0special team to catch these thrives. But the major problem is that no one is able to identify them. But we are investigating all suspects."
Number Game
2,044
The number of chain snatching cases registered last year inu00a0 the city
787
The number of chain snatching cases detected last year
Dos and don'ts
Sit in the centre in the rickshaw if alone
Call 100 right after the incident so cops can take immediate action
Take down the bike's number, since identification is not possible as they wear helmets
Be too engrossed over the phone
Be preoccupied with music or other distractions
Keep the bag on either side of the rickshaw. Instead, hold it firmly with you
