Ahead of festival, chain snatchers get busy in Chennai

The police suspect a motorcycle-bound duo could be behind at least three incidents reported in Aynavaram and adjoining areas

A spate of daylight chain snatching incidents has been reported in the city over the past two days.

The police suspect a motorcycle-bound duo could be behind at least three incidents reported in Aynavaram and adjoining areas.

One of the six incidents happened in a government office complex. Another incident took place in Vyasarpadi on Saturday night.

The police divulged the names of three victims. Details of the other three are yet to be ascertained.

The first incident was reported at Aynavaram Railway office (joint office) around 10 a.m. on Monday. The police said a duo snatched a six-sovereign gold chain from Shanthi, an employee. Two men wearing helmets snatched her chain as she was entering the office, and fled in a motorcycle.

Two policemen outside the office tried to nab the suspects who managed to evade them and sped away. The police have registered a case and are investigating.

Within two hours of the incident, the same culprits seem to have struck in nearby localities like Tirumangalam, J.J. Nagar, Nolambur and Korattur.

The police said a five-sovereign chain belonging to a resident, Tamil Selvi, was snatched in Korattur and a seven-sovereign chain was snatched from another resident, Gomathi, in Mogappair.

When the police interrogated the victims, they all gave the same description of the culprits.

Meanwhile, two men on a bike snatched a nine-sovereign chain from a 50-year-old woman in Vyasarpadi on Saturday night. R. Leela, the victim, is a resident of Balamurugan Street in Parthasarathy Nagar.

She and her husband Rajan were standing outside their house at 7.30 p.m. and feeding their grandson when the incident occurred. “I felt someone’s hand on my chain and I started shouting. But the men on the bike throttled the vehicle at that moment and drowned out my cries,” she said. She said the two men were not wearing helmets. A case has been registered with the Vyasarpadi police.

The police suspect the incidents are on the rise due to Deepavali shopping and the general festive atmosphere, when there are more potential victims wearing gold jewellery. “The culprits make a bid for quick money. Vehicle checks and patrolling have been increased across the city,” said a senior police officer.