Cops nab inter-state bag snatcher from Andhra

BHAYANDAR: The Kashimira police have arrested the key member of an interstate bag snatcher gang which mainly targeted people coming out of banks. Identified as Mahesh Petla, the 29-year-old bag snatcher was arrested from a remote village in Andhra Pradesh. The gang is active across various states in the country. According to the police most inhabitants of the village are said to be traditional criminals who have mastered the art of diverting attention of their targets before snatching their valuables in broad daylight. Two members of the gang including Petla had snatched the handbag containing gold ornaments worth more than Rs 8.75 lakh from a senior citizen who had stepped out of a bank in Mira Road, a few days ahead of Ganeshutsav in September, this year. Based on the images captured by CCTV, the police team activated their core informer and learnt that the gang members hailed from a remote village in Andhra Pradesh. The police arrested Petla and recovered stolen gold ornaments weighing 20 tolas worth around Rs 6 lakh from his possession. Throwing light on their modus operandi, an investigating officer said, “The gang members would visit banks and keep watch on customers who withdraw cash or collect valuables from lockers. Once a target was identified, they would follow and strike at a convenient location- either by breaking open the glass panes of cars / bike dickey’s or simply snatch and flee. ”However his accomplices are still at large. A case under section 392 of the IPC has been registered against the accused who has been remanded to custody by the District Sessions Court, Thane.