Thief helps cops nab three chain-snatchers

MUMBAI: A tip-off from an accused arrested in a case of theft has helped the Amboli police nab three youths involved in a dozen cases of chain-snatching in the Juhu-Amboli stretch for the past one year.
Two weeks ago, police officials had nabbed one Aniket Bhagwat alias Chakli for stealing an Amboli resident's mobile and a gold chain. On interrogation, Bhagwat said that he used to steal regularly to fund his drug habit.He revealed that he used to meet up with three others who also used to snatch chains to purchase drugs.
"The accused Wahid Khan, Toufiq Sayyed and Sanket Motaling used to target women who were walking or travelling in rickshaws alone. Their modus operandi was to follow their victim on a bike and then attack her on a less crowded street,'' said investigating officer PSI G S Chimate.
According to the police, the three always managed to escape from crime scenes as they were expert riders. The accused are residents of a Jogeshwari slum and do not have criminal records.
The three would sell the gold chains to a jewellery manufacturing unit in Jogeshwari. The police have managed to recover 140 gm of gold ornaments and have also seized two pulsar bikes.