Police spread net as chain snatchers make a killing

KOCHI: Hit by a sudden spurt in chain snatching incidents within city limits over the last few months, the police have decided to launch an all-out offensive against criminal gangs and prepared a list of 20 suspects. Photographs of these suspects will be provided to police patrol teams in the district.
The operation has been planned considering the upcoming festival season and the possibility of chain snatchers striking when people come out in droves to the city for shopping.
City deputy commissioner of police (DCP) V M Muhammed Rafeeq said they would nab the suspects soon and claimed to have taken necessary steps. "We have a list of suspects which has been prepared based on information provided by offenders who were arrested earlier for chain snatching," the officer said. In the last three months, nearly a dozen chain snatchings were reported in the city and suburbs, including from places such as Thrikkakara, Kalamassery and Tripunithura. But, according to the DCP, the number of chain snatching cases in the city is less compared to rural areas in the district. "We are doing our best and expect to nab the culprits in the coming days," he added.
Meanwhile, resident associations in the city have decided to take up the matter with the city police as women fear to go out alone, especially in the mornings. "We have decided to take up the issue with the police in our the next meeting. We don't see police patrolling roads at night and early mornings," said Ernakulam District Residents' Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) president P Rangadasaprabhu.
The council also decided to issue a circular to other associations to create awareness and ask people, especially women, not to wear gold ornaments while going out alone. "We will ask other associations to sensitize people on the risk of wearing gold ornaments while going out alone," he added.
As per a rough estimate, nearly half-a-crore worth of gold ornaments has been snatched from the streets of the city over the last three years. There has also been a 40% increase in incidents of chain snatching in the last two years compared with 2010.
Crime statistics with the city police also reveal that the maximum number of chain snatchings has been reported from posh residential areas in the city and suburbs, including Palarivattom, Hill Palace and Kalamassery. Between 2009 and 2011, a total of 115 chain snatching cases were reported from the city.