Over 22,000 snatching cases reported since 2016, police solved 10,179

NEW DELHI: Snatching has been a major problem in the city and it has been observed that the trauma of the crime remains for good on the victims. In a more disturbing disclosure, the data claimed that since 2016, Delhi witnessed more than 22,000 snatching cases in which the police cracked over 10,000 cases while 13,000 persons were nabbed.

The data accessed by

claimed that in the year 2018 till August 31, 4,411 cases have been reported whereas last year 8,231 cases came to police. In 2016, the city witnessed 9,571 cases. Out of 22,000 case, 12,034 cases are still unsolved.

The further data revealed

Post Millennium

that in the current year, 2,239 cases were solved whereas police cracked 4,576 cases in 2017 and 3,364 cases were solved in 2016 by different districts.

The police arrested 4,601 persons in 2016, 6,058 in 2017 and 3,263 persons so far this year. Two compendium which includes active robbers and snatchers was made by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in order to keep a tab on the criminals and also to curb the menace of street crime. 465 active snatchers were named in the compendium whereas 576 active robbers were found.

A senior police officer from Crime Branch claimed that during the investigation of several snatching cases it was found that high-speed motorcycles are used by the snatch- ers. In most of the cases, the accused on their bikes came from the wrong side and then committed the crime. "It will take time for the victim to turn back and chase them," said the officer.

He further added that the major criminal gangs work on different strategies and one of them is to commit more than five to six snatchings in a single day and then went underground or stop for the period.

Though the police claimed that they put all-out effort to curb the crime but for the victim, the trauma lasts forever. Till August 2017, a 50-year-old woman working with Government agency could walk freely on the road but the snatching incident with her changed the woman's thoughts. "Now before going outside, I wear only artificial jewellery, the incident had shaken me from inside. I used to walk freely on the road but now there is the loss of trust," said the woman.

When asked about the police action, she said," the policemen called her and when she reached the police station there were several men standing. The cops told me to identify the person. It was shocking for me as the incident happened in just a few minutes how I can identify him. There should be the change in the identification system."

Additional PRO from Delhi Police stated that to curb snatching they focus on picketing and patrolling. "After identifying the spots, we heightened the security and it helps in catching criminals," said the PRO.