With recent spurt in cases of snatching the national Capital has become its hub with certain places as “hot-spots” where such crimes are rampant. Unfortunately, CCTVs installed at various locations have failed to ‘deter’ snatchers who are still operating with fearlessness. While the police prove to be ineffective in keeping check such activities that include chain, mobile and wallet snatching.
Snatchers usually target old aged people, women and girls who are considered more vulnerable as compared to others. Apart from crowded market places where incidences of day light snatching are quite common, the poorly lit roads, service-lanes and by-lanes, corners, dead ends, isolated places etc. snatchers operate with “impunity”.
No single day passes without incidents of snatching being reported and in most of the cases related to the snatching criminals are usually bike-borne and target elderly particularly women and girls. A majority of chain snatching incidents take place during afternoon and late evening hours in various busy localities of city.
The snatchers didn’t hesitate to stab or shoot someone who resists snatching or follows them. As witnessed in two such incidents that occurred within last 10 days, in one incident the snatchers shot at 28-year-old Mohit in Anand Vihar when he was trying to grab a bike-borne snatcher and in another incident a 14-year-old was shot at as he was trying to stop two bike-borne snatchers from robbing his father. Delhites feel lack of proper policing and improper patrolling has resulted in the rise in incidences of snatching.
“The patrol van is usually seen parked at a definite location for hours. They hardly move unless someone approaches or they have to go somewhere. The snatchers are also local criminals and they very well know about this and hence are fearless,” said Rohit Yadav, a resident of Mayur Vihar.
Statistics shows that till September end 5034 cases of snatching were reported in the National Capital. Delhi police has claimed to workout 2565 cases of snatching so far. In 2017, Delhi police has registered 8231 cases of snatching.
According to a senior police official, these snatchers do not have a specific pattern or location where they commit the crime. “They generally choose remote areas and locations close to schools, temples, parks and residential areas. Also, many of the offenders use stolen bikes and abandon them immediately after the crime,” said the senior police official.
“We don’t feel safe even going to famous market places like, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar. One thing that seemed common in all was the encroached market lanes that these lanes are home to the snatchers. I along with my had visited Sarojni Nagar two months ago when one man while passing by snatched her bag and ran away,” said Rohit Chabbra, a resident of Gautam Nagar, near AIIMS adding that due to congested area it is not even possible to chase these snatchers.
A senior official in Sarojini Nagar police station while talking to The Pioneer said that though CCTV cameras are installed in the area they try to keep a vigil eye on snatchers but that CCTV doesn’t solve the purpose as these snatchers are aware of CCTV camera and manage to hide and flee after snatching.
“Though Delhi Police has posted beat officers at every district in National Capital to keep an insight on suspicious person and criminals but shortage of police personnel in the force is another reason that these snatchers are active in several areas especially in bordering area where after snatching these snatchers cross the border just to avoid police action,” said Amrik Sharma, a social activist and a resident in Anand Vihar area.
“Most of these snatchers even carry weapons. Last week, two snatchers had robbed of my roommate when she was returning home from Malviya Nagar at around 10:30 pm last week. They had pointed knife at her and took away wallet and her mobile phone. Since then we have stopped using metro and have started hiring a cab which make us feel more safer,” said Esha Sharma, a resident of Malviya Nagar.