With the yellow metal getting costlier, chain-snatchers here have become more active than before.
In the last seven days, they have snatched 21 sovereigns of gold jewels from women in Erode town and its suburbs.
Motorcycle-borne unidentified youths sparked terror in the town with a series of chain-snatching incidents.
On February 10, Shanthi (35), a resident of Amman Nagar in Thindal, was cleaning the area in front of her house, when two youths on a motorcycle approached her asking for an address in the area.
While conversing with her, the pillion-rider snatched a six-sovereign gold chain from her and fled the spot.
An hour later, Soni (21), a college student, was robbed of her three-sovereign gold chain at Poongundran Street.
She was on her way to college, when two youths came on a bike and escaped after snatching her chain.
On February 8, two women were robbed of their gold chains in Kollampalayam area.
Sarojini (48) and her neighbour Mallika were walking on a street, when two youths snatched her six-sovereign chain and escaped with the booty.
Vilashini (50) had a similar experience while she was returning home after buying milk at a shop. A youth followed her and the moment she reached an isolated place, he snatched her chain and fled the spot.
Increasing incidents
The sharp increase in chain-snatching incidents has caused fear among women in the town. Though police had established temporary check posts at different places and intensified vehicle-checks, the chain-snatching incidents continued to take place.
“All the recent chain-snatching incidents have taken place during broad day light. The culprits in all these cases are still at large,” a senior police official said.
“We do not feel safe to wear jewels even at home. The threat of snatching looms large in the town,” S. Vanitha, a resident in Teachers Colony said. Meanwhile, police had formed special squads to nab the chain-snatchers.
Superintendent of Police T. Jayachandran said vehicle-checks are now being conducted round-the-clock and patrolling in the residential areas has been intensified.
