A gang that stole chains from passengers in moving buses was apprehended by the Otteri police here on Tuesday.
A total of 65 sovereigns of jewellery were recovered from the suspects who confessed to having committed the offences.
Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said the accused adopted a novel modus operandi to relieve passengers, mostly men, of their gold chains.
After zeroing in on the victim in a crowded bus, one accused would stand behind the person while three of his associates would cover him/her from other sides.
At an appropriate time, the accused standing behind the victim would cut the gold chain using his teeth.
Then one of the gangsters would manage to smoothly pull out the chain and escape.
“Two members of the gang armed with weapons would follow the bus in an autorickshaw. Soon after getting off the bus with the stolen property, the accused would board the autorickshaw and escape,” Mr. Rajendran said.
Two autorickshaws and 15 mobile phones used by the accused Suresh alias Karukka Suresh, Basha, Manikandan, Karunadas, Sasikumar and Selvam of Pulianthope were seized by the special team, led by Inspector R. Balaji, police sources said.
Nodal officers
Talking to reporters, Mr. Rajendran said that the Chennai Police had taken steps to nominate nodal officers in different sectors such as hospitals, hotels and shopping malls.
“We already have nodal officers in the IT Corridor, CII and three others sectors. We want to expand it to all areas that would include roadside vegetable/fruit vendors. In the event of any threat situation, these nodal officers chosen from among the respective associations would be alerted. This will be a part of the ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ and also a component of ‘Safe Chennai’ campaign,” Mr. Rajendran said.