Passers-by nab chain snatcher at Rabale, 1 flees

The residents of Rabale village caught hold of a 24-year-old man, who allegedly tried to ran away after snatching a gold chain from a woman on Thursday.

The accused was later handed over to the police. One of his accomplices managed to run away from the spot.

Nilambari Salgawkar, 57, a resident of the village, was walking along the road on Thursday afternoon. As she was crossing the Hanuman temple area, two men on a motorcycle accosted her.

“The accused snatched her gold chain worth Rs 75,000 and then tried to run away. The woman raised an alarm and started screaming. A group of people gathered. They chased the accused and managed to nab one of them. He has been identified as Abbaz Majnum Irani, a resident of Thane district,” said a police officer from Rabale police station.

The police have booked the accused under section 392 of the Indian Penal Code. He is in police custody. The police are looking for his accomplice.

According to the crime branch officials, Rabale has the highest number chain- snatching cases in Navi Mumbai.

“To curb chain snatching cases, we are conducting awareness programmes at different places,” said the police.

In many cases, the culprits hypnotise the victims and attack them with chilli powder and other such things.

“We are also taking help of CCTV camera footage for getting hold of the culprits,” another police officer from Rabale police station said.