Chain-snatchers keep cops on toes

The spate of robberies has made the city police step up patrolling. They are also taking the help from the traffic police to apprehend bike-borne chain-snatchers. Criminals on record are also on their radar.

On Tuesday morning,Geeta Roopnarayan Khatri (43) was assaulted and robbed of her silver jewellery near Pradhikaran on Tuesday morning when she was on a morning walk. The two robbers were on a motorcycle. Khatri had to be admitted to Lokmanya Hospital with serious face injuries.

On Tuesday evening,a 37-year-old woman techie,Amruta Potdar,was attacked before she was robbed of her gold chain on Baner service road. One of the two suspects beat her and demanded the jewellery. Potdar was injured on the face,shoulder and knees.

“The suspect seems to be a new criminal. If he would have been an experienced chain-snatcher he would have done it fast without hurting the woman…’” Sharad Ugale,senior police inspector with Nigdi police station said.

On Thursday,there were two break-ins,one at Narayan Peth and the other at Pashan-Sus Road flat,in which 27 and 22 tolas of gold ornaments were stolen respectively.

On Makarsankranti,there were five incidents of chain-snatching and one of the victims was a PMC corporator and one an 80-year old woman.

Conceding that chain-snatching was on the rise,Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar said,“As we said earlier we are taking the help of the traffic police to monitor movements of two-wheeler riders. In two cases of chain-snatching,the suspects have been arrested.”

Anant Shinde,additional commissioner of police (crime),said “From Sunday we increased check points presence of police force. Most of the chain-snatching incidents were between 4 pm and 8 pm. We have stepped up policing in this time period.”

On Thursday,a 57-year-old man was robbed of his gold ring and cellphone by two bime-borne men,who threatened him with sharp weapons. Swargate police are investigating.

More traffic cops on duty
Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar said 48 assistant sub inspectors with various departments will be transferred to the traffic division to increase the staff strength to address complaints of commuters better. She added that the increased strength will also be helpful in tracking criminals involved in chain-snatching incidents.