Bengaluru: Chain snatchers back on prowl

BENGALURU: Chain snatchers struck again on Tuesday with two bike-borne miscreants robbing three women, in a span of 40 minutes, in Chandra Layout, Vijaynagar and Jnanbharthi police station limits in the West division. Another incident was reported from South division in Banashankri early Tuesday. Patrolling has been stepped-up in the areas and the police are on the look out for the miscreants.

The first incident was reported from Banshankari after Laxmi, a 65–year-old victim, approached the police station and lodged a complaint. A resident of Kaveri Nagar, Laxmi said the incident happened around 6 am when she was cleaning her house. Two bike-borne miscreants approached her on the pretext of asking for an address and managed to snatch away her gold chain weighing 12 grams. The victim soon raised an alarm which alerted the neighbours, but by the time they rushed for her rescue, the miscreants had fled.

Later, in the day, the West Division police was rocked by a spate of three chain snatchings. Around 11.30 am, two bike-borne miscreants managed to snatch away a gold chain from an elderly woman in Vinayaka Layout. The victim, Kamala, was standing in front of her house waiting for the vegetable vendor. The two miscreants approached her on the pretext of asking the address and managed to snatch away her gold chain weighing 15 grams.

Nearly 15 minutes later around 11. 45 am a 64-year-old woman was robbed of her gold chain, weighing 35 grams, while the victim, Savitamma, was walking towards a relative’s house in Canara Bank Colony in Chandra Layout police station limits.

Around 12 noon, the miscreants struck near NGEF Layout in Jnanabharathi after they robbed 66-year-old Girijamba, a house wife and resident of Tavarekere, of her gold chain weighing 65 grams. While the victim was walking towards the bus stop to board a bus, two miscreants came on a bike from behind and snatched away the gold chain.

“The police are suspecting that the series of chain snatching which were reported in West division was most likely done by the same gang. However, the police have gathered vital clues about the duo and patrolling in the area has been stepped up,” said Labhu Ram DCP (West).

Seven arrested for thefts in city

The South East division police have arrested seven habitual offenders and recovered Rs 27 lakh worth valuables from them. The accused have been identified as Anthony Raju, (26), a native of Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, Mruthyunjaya, (25) and Shivakumar, (25), both natives of Anekal. They were arrested by Kadugodi police based on a tip off. A detailed questioning led them to confess to 10 criminal cases including two chain-snatching, six house break thefts and two two-wheeler thefts committed in and around the city. They have recovered gold, silver ornaments and two bikes, a total worth of Rs 20 lakh from them.

Meanwhile the White Field police also arrested four people for their involvement in chain snatching and dacoity incidents. The police have identified the accused as D.M. Venkatesh (27), Kiran (19), Anjan Kumar (24) and Bharath (24) and have recovered gold and silver valuables worth Rs 7 lakh. The accused are involved in six chain-snatchings, one extortion case and a house break theft case. The cases have been registered in respective police station limits.