City police have unearthed a new modus operandi of chain snatching — couples involved in the offence using hired motorcycles.
More than five couples from Delhi and adjoining areas, who are part of a gang, operated in the city over the past three months. They lived in lodges in Periamedu area along with their children.
They are suspected to have robbed over 150 sovereigns from women pedestrians in the city. A team led by Deputy Commissioner (Anna Nagar) Prem Anand Sinha is now in Delhi to trace the gang.
The involvement of a couples’ gang came to light only two weeks ago when a Flower Bazaar police team apprehended chain-snatching offender Imtiyaz (24) of Thangal who is a native of Old Delhi. “He snatched a chain near Parry’s Corner and left behind his motorcycle after the police gave chase. Using the registration plate, the cops traced Imtiyaz and his sister Abitha (30).
“During questioning, he revealed that he had acted as a guide for a chain-snatching gang comprising couples. He also separately operated with his sister,” said an investigating officer.
The offenders include women in their gang in order to avoid raising a suspicion during routine vehicle checks by police. Some of the offenders are Imtiyaz’s relatives whom he had introduced to the job, the officer said.
Investigators have learnt that the gang came to Chennai regularly and stayed at lodges in Periamedu. Leaving the children behind, they went around neighbourhoods on borrowed or rented motorcycles. The routes were chosen by Imtiyaz and Abitha on the basis of police activity and availability of escape routes.
After the act, the suspects divided the loot amongst them and left the city with their respective families.
They returned a few weeks later, police said.
