HYDERABAD: Police arrested three persons who snatched gold chains from women in Hyderabad and recovered stolen gold worth Rs. 26 lakh at their instance.
The police also seized two motorcycles which were used while snatching chains. Two persons who allegedly bought the stolen chains were also arrested on Saturday. Thirty-two snatched gold chains worth Rs. 26 lakh were seized from Mohd. Abdul Faheem, 23, Abdul Sameer, 25, and Syed Abdul Nayeem, 30. Their associate Syed Ahmedullah, 25, is still at large, the West zone DCP G. Sudheer Babu said at a press conference.
The three accused were arrested earlier on a similar charge, but continued to resort to chain snatching after their release from prison. Faheem of Nawabsaabkunta in Old City used to work as an office boy. Having been addicted to a lavish lifestyle, he started snatching gold chains from women five years ago. He was arrested twice earlier.
An auto-rickshaw driver Sameer was allegedly involved in a murder in Chandrayangutta a year ago and facing trial. Nayeem of Khilwath in Old City, a mobile phone technician, resorted to chain snatchings as he couldn’t earn enough by repairing mobile phones.
The trio, along with their associate, used to ride numberless bikes, identify women walking alone on the road and speed away after snatching the chains they wore. They mostly targeted the women during morning walks, or those visiting temples and or nearby film theatres, the DCP said.
Two persons, Mohd. Abdul Kareem, 32, and Syed Shanawaz, 24, who purchased the chains from the gang despite knowing that they were stolen, were also arrested.
