2 serial chain snatchers held, 36 sovereigns of gold seized

COIMBATORE: Three chain snatchers involved in 10 cases in the city were arrested on Monday by the city police. As many as 36 sovereigns of gold jewels were recovered from them. Police said the gang leader had even constructed a new house in Theni district with the help of the stolen loot.
The three culprits are N Prabhu alias Prabhakaran (23), from Pinnadevanpatti in Theni district, W Charles (24) and K Rajesh (26), both hailing from Periyar Nagar at Puliakulam.Police said the trio worked as electricians. Prabhu was in love with Banumathi, hailing from Nanjundapuram, and had married her, a year ago. The couple has one child and they were living at Ondipudur.
The three were friends and met when they were all in financial crisis. They decided to chain-snatch to repay their loans. Charles and Rajesh owned motorcycles. They roamed the city to identify chain snatching opportunities. Prabhu usually rode the bike while Charles rode pillion, on their chain-snatching trips.
Police said Charles used to snatch the gold chain from the victim and immediately flee the scene with Prabhu's help. Rajesh followed them on a bike, pretending to chase after them. In this way, they successfully committed 10 such crimes in Gandhipuram, Peelamedu, Saravanampatti and various other areas. A special team led by assistant commissioner of police K Ramachandran, suspected Prabhu's activities and took him in their custody on Monday. He confessed to the crimes.
Prabhu told police that he completed class VIII and was an electrician living in a rented house along with his family. He constructed a new house at Pinnadevanpatti in Theni district. Meanwhile, his two friends Charles and Rajesh had loans to repay.
"We have seized 36 sovereigns of gold jewels worth Rs 8.5 lakh and two motorcycles from them. The trio was involved in two bike thefts too," said assistant commissioner of police (east sub-division) Ramachandran.