32-year-old wanted in 12 cases held

MUMBAI: A 32-year-old chainsnatcher, who was involved in robbing several women in the city, was arrested from his native place in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

A team of four policemen from Pant Nagar police station in Ghatkopar arrested the accused, Akram Akhtar Khan, who is a resident of Titwala in Mumbai and has atleast 12 cases registered against him.

In a recent case, at Ghatkopar last month, a senior citizen’s chain, weighing around 30 grams was snatched. On checking CCTVS, it was revealed that the accused had escaped in a fourwheeler. Further investigations revealed the accused was Khan, who was involved in multiple chain snatching incidents in the past. “Khan would park his car and stand near it. He would target elderly women passing by and escape in the car after snatching their ornaments,” said Kiran Patil, police sub inspector, Pant Nagar police station. Khan used to hide the number plate of his car to avoid detention.

On checking records, police found that Khan had been arrested in the past in similar cases, but continued to snatch chains he was out on bail.

Recently, the police were tipped off that Khan was in Bareilly after which a team left for UP, where they waited for five days before arresting him. He was later produced in a local court in UP, from where they sought his transit remand to bring him to Mumbai. Khan has been staying in Mumbai for the last eight years and took up driving jobs. However, he would snatch chains for easy money.