Family gang in silk gloves: Women-led SUV crew busted for chain snatching

Raipur: In an unusual twist to street crime, Raipur police have busted an inter-state family-run chain-snatching gang dominated by women, who used a luxury SUV to carry out thefts in crowded markets while posing as ordinary travellers. Besides Chhattisgarh, the gang had committed several such crimes in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra too. Eight accused, seven women and one man, all relatives—were arrested after targeting shoppers across the city. Police said the group travelled together in a high-end vehicle, blending into busy marketplaces before swiftly stealing gold chains without raising suspicion. The breakthrough came following a complaint lodged at DD Nagar police station in Raipur by Tarunendra Verma, whose 66-year-old mother, Nirmala Verma, was robbed of her gold chain at the bustling Changorabhatha market on April 8. Taking advantage of the crowd, the accused discreetly removed the chain without raising suspicion. Acting on CCTV footage, the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit traced suspicious movements of a group of women seen hovering around the victim. Further technical analysis revealed the involvement of a four-wheeler, which became the key to cracking the case. A 15-member police team laid a trap near Bhatagaon bus stand in Raipur and intercepted the suspect vehicle. The occupants initially attempted to mislead investigators but later confessed to their involvement. During interrogation, they admitted to committing at least a dozen such thefts across various police station limits in Raipur, including Saraswati Nagar, Khamtarai, Kotwali, Golebazar, and DD Nagar. Police said the gang had executed similar crimes in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, indicating a wide operational network. In a telling detail, police said the SUV was bought using stolen gold, showing how the gang reinvested its loot to expand operations. Police recovered Rs 10,500 in cash, a gold chain, a cutter, four mobile phones, and the SUV, with total seizures valued at approximately Rs 11.3 lakh. The accused hail from Indore and Jalgaon. Further investigation is underway to establish links to other unsolved cases and identify potential receivers of the stolen jewellery.