The Gurugram Police has adopted many strategies to check chain snatching incidents in city and managed to instil fear in chain snatcher gangs, claimed senior cops. Strategies include forming anti-chain snatching teams, ensuring a conviction for the offenders, keeping a tab on local offenders and nabbing inter-State gangs operating in the city.
This year till September, the Gurugram anti-snatching teams have managed to arrest members of seven different gangs, who were operating in the city, said police. These include Namaste Gang, Surender, alias Sharu Gang, Mewati Gang, Madrasi Gang, Mintu, alias Bihari, gang, Bawaria (Shamli) Gang and the Bawaria Gang, they added.
In 2016, a total of 409 snatching cases were reported and around 154 were traced while. This year, till September around 352 snatching were registered. With the arrest of members of seven notorious gangs, dozens of snatching cases were solved and 110 snatched items were traced, said police.
"It is true that snatchers have targeted women and senior citizens. But we have been successful in instilling fear among the snatchers. After policemen were deployed in different locations which include isolated stretches, they are under constant fear," Sandeep Kumar, Incharge Anti-Chain Snatching Staff said.
This year, the city has witnessed two new modus operandi adopted by the chain snatchers. For the first time, a 'Namaste Gang' from Ghaziabad came to the city. They first transported their vehicles in the city and targeted the women who came to pick up their children from schools or buses and senior citizens, who were on a morning walk.
"They first greet their victim with Namaste and then snatched their valuables and flee the spot. They usually commit two snatching a day and move to another city usually by air. However, they were caught in February this year from the Delhi airport by the Gurugram Police," he added.
Surender, alias Sharu, gang usually commit the crime in the old Gurugram only because they were well aware of all roads in the old Gurugram after committing the crime they throw chilli powder in the air so that no one can chase them.
"Namaste Gang member was very high-tech they had committed dozens of crime in the South Indian States because they know that women in the south wear more gold than in other parts of the country.
"In 90 per cent of the cases, the professional chain snatchers do a recce before striking. The professional snatchers target their victims during festivals and marriage season. They do a lot of research before descending on the city and committing offences," DCP (Crime) Sumit Kuhar said.
"Mewati, Madrasi, Mintu and another two Bawaria gangs commit the crime only for their drinking habits and other wrong activities. During the interrogation, the gang members reveal that chain snatching is an easy job instead of burglaries, robberies or dacoities," Sub-Inspector Sandeep said.
"However the Gurugram police registered a case against the gang members and also against the jewelers, who buy snatched items," he added.