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A study conducted by the city police says that in majority of the cases in 2012, victims were senior citizens above 60 years. At a press conference on Friday, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shahji Solunkhe said chain snatching cases have increased in all the four zones of the city. “Compared to last year, chain snatching cases have increased by 52 in zone I, 35 in zone II, 43 in zone III and 24 in zone IV,” he said.
“Maximum cases were reported from Kothrud and Warje. There were 26 more chain snatching cases in Kothrud between January and October compared to the corresponding period last year. In Warje, the number has increased by 16, in Chatushringi by 14 and in Dattawadi by 11. But in Kondhwa, the number has decreased by five,” he added.
Solunkhe said of the 411 cases this year, maximum incidents of 105 took place between 9 am and 1 pm. Police found that in 132 cases, women who were targeted were above 60 years.
Solunkhe said police are doing their best to tackle the menace. Solunkhe on Friday announced a reward for crime branch sleuths who nabbed two chain snatchers.
Acting on a tip-off to constable Baba Dangde and police naik Raju Borde, a team of anti-chain snatching squad of the Crime Branch led by inspector Chandrakant Ghodke, arrested Bapu alias Mohan Dashrath Virkar (32) of Ubale Nagar, Wagholi and Vinod alias Pappu Waman Halande (26) of Gore chawl, Chakan.
Police said that duo are history sheeters and committed 10 chain snatchings in differents areas of city between May and October 2012.
Meanwhile, motorcycle borne youths had snatched chains of three elderly women in three cases on November 5.
As many as three chain snatching incidents and three of cheating by conmen posing as cops were reported in different parts of the city on Sunday and in all the cases, the victims were elderly women.
