Chain snatching cases register jump

Hyderabad city has become a theft capital of sorts, with chain snatching cases becoming increasingly rampant. As many as 226 cases were reported in the first quarter of the year. Though the police arrested 20 snatching gangs in 2012 and recovered valuables worth `1 crore from them, the thieves continue to use the same modus operandi, undeterred. They move around on bikes with helmets, snatch chains and make off.

According to data from the City Crime Records Bureau, there is a 32 per cent increase in cases during the first three months of the year compared to 2012.

Senior police officials and crime analysts say that one of the reasons could be that most policemen were engaged in special duties, such as those required after the twin blasts, or religious celebrations and other bandobast duties at the begin- ning of the year. With the police otherwise occupied, the chain snatchers found it easy to target pedestrians.

A majority of the chain snatching cases were reported from Hyderabad’s borders with Cyberabad. “Many people became victims in the East Zone since it is easy for criminals to flee to the deserted areas of Cyberabad,” a senior official said.

The thieves use fake number plates or stolen vehicles, making it difficult for the police to nab them though they have tracked down some organised gangs having good drivers and bikes.

Citizens feel that the police treat chain snatching cases as ‘ a petty offence’, while senior officials say that they have been cracking down on the thieves. “In 2012, we solved 257 cases out of the 773 reported. We busted 20 gangs, comprising 67 members. We also recovered `99.07 lakh from them,” police commissioner Anurag Sharma said.