Chain snatchers rule Delhi’s streets
18 Oct 2012 1:26 AM GMT
Every six hours a woman loses her jewellery to bike-borne ‘chain snatchers’ in the Indian capital. Police admit they are facing a formidable challenge from the dare-devil criminals.
From January to September this year, a total of 1,087 chain snatching incidents took place in the city, a slight fall from 1,152 cases reported during the corresponding period last year. Almost every time, unsuspecting women standing or walking on streets lost their gold jewellery to a pair of young men riding a motorcycle.
Once the gang spots a target, the pillion rider stealthily approaches the unsuspecting woman. Within split seconds, the gold chain is yanked off the neck. The men speed away, quickly merging in traffic.
Rarely are the snatchers caught in the act.
Within 24 hours, the snatched gold is sold to corrupt jewellers who buy it cheap and quickly melt it – to make a fresh piece of jewellery.
‘The gangs target women who venture out to markets or near their homes,’ Deputy Commissioner of Police [crime & railways] S B S Tyagi said. ‘They take advantage of the surprise factor and escape within seconds.’
No part of Delhi has been spared. The worst hit, according to official statistics, is the Outer Delhi police district which includes places like Sultanpuri, Rohini, Bawana and Narela.
But posh and relatively sparsely populated areas have not escaped the menace. According to police officers, most snatching takes place before 8 am, when people take morning walk, or between 5 and 8 pm when many women are returning home from work.
While most women lose one piece of jewellery, some lose more.
Police claimed to have arrested 1,770 suspects in 2011 and 1,160 till 30 September this year. But there is no end to chain snatching. Police officers admit the crime is proving difficult to curb. There is more than one reason for this.
Rajender Singh Yadav of the Special Task Force blamed bike gangs for 98 per cent of snatching incidents.
‘Most victims got traumatised. Not only do they fail to notice the faces of the criminals but they also don’t note down the registration number of the motorcycle,’ Yadav said.
At times, the victims, fearing possible retribution, refuse to identify the accused. An exasperated officer said: ‘It is very difficult for us to keep vigil on every nook and corner. People must be on alert on roads and in their own colonies.’
From January to September this year, a total of 1,087 chain snatching incidents took place in the city, a slight fall from 1,152 cases reported during the corresponding period last year. Almost every time, unsuspecting women standing or walking on streets lost their gold jewellery to a pair of young men riding a motorcycle.
Once the gang spots a target, the pillion rider stealthily approaches the unsuspecting woman. Within split seconds, the gold chain is yanked off the neck. The men speed away, quickly merging in traffic.
Rarely are the snatchers caught in the act.
Within 24 hours, the snatched gold is sold to corrupt jewellers who buy it cheap and quickly melt it – to make a fresh piece of jewellery.
‘The gangs target women who venture out to markets or near their homes,’ Deputy Commissioner of Police [crime & railways] S B S Tyagi said. ‘They take advantage of the surprise factor and escape within seconds.’
No part of Delhi has been spared. The worst hit, according to official statistics, is the Outer Delhi police district which includes places like Sultanpuri, Rohini, Bawana and Narela.
But posh and relatively sparsely populated areas have not escaped the menace. According to police officers, most snatching takes place before 8 am, when people take morning walk, or between 5 and 8 pm when many women are returning home from work.
While most women lose one piece of jewellery, some lose more.
Police claimed to have arrested 1,770 suspects in 2011 and 1,160 till 30 September this year. But there is no end to chain snatching. Police officers admit the crime is proving difficult to curb. There is more than one reason for this.
Rajender Singh Yadav of the Special Task Force blamed bike gangs for 98 per cent of snatching incidents.
‘Most victims got traumatised. Not only do they fail to notice the faces of the criminals but they also don’t note down the registration number of the motorcycle,’ Yadav said.
At times, the victims, fearing possible retribution, refuse to identify the accused. An exasperated officer said: ‘It is very difficult for us to keep vigil on every nook and corner. People must be on alert on roads and in their own colonies.’
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