The craze for smart phones is driving juveniles to target young women. On a daily basis, at least five cases of mobile snatching are reported at various police stations in the city and several others go unreported, say police officials.
In most of the cases, the offenders are motorcycle-borne juveniles who target young women walking along deserted roads or strolling in posh localities during nights.
Sharing her harrowing experience, 18-year-old A.Vaishnavi of Saligramam said, “My dad and I were returning home on a two-wheeler on Friday night. I was the pillion rider. Near Valluvar Kottam, two boys on a bike suddenly came close to us and one of them tried to snatch my mobile. I resisted and it fell on the road. As I screamed, they fled the spot.”
A fortnight ago, a young woman lodged a complaint with the Chintadripet police of motorcycle-borne persons snatching her purse and mobile phone. CCTV footage near her office on Anna Salai showed that the duo had been following her for some distance. She told the police that one of the suspects looked like a juvenile.
Admitting to the increasing number of cases of mobile phone snatching in the city, Police Commissioner A.K.Viswanathan on Monday said, “We detect several cases and arrest the accused. We are taking consistent efforts to control the offence.”
Girija Kumar Babu, member of Juvenile Justice Board, Chennai, said: “Around 30% of juveniles who were brought here are allegedly involved in mobile phone thefts. Since they are juveniles, we send them back to their families with admonition, besides placing them under the supervision of a Probation officer.”
‘Peer pressure’
“Even children aged between 10 and 12 years are involved in the offence. The adolescent offenders commit the act either due to peer pressure to have a smart phone or to make easy pocket money.”
A few months ago, a gang of boys from north India were rounded up by the police after they allegedly snatched and stole mobile phones from bus passengers in CMBT bus terminus. As they were repeat offenders, they were sent to a Special Observation Home.
A police officer in K.K. Nagar said, “Mobile phones are indispensable now. Young women and men use their gadget for texting or listening to songs while waiting in the bus stand and other public places.”
“Women and senior citizens are easy targets for robbers who come in bike to snatch the mobiles from the hands of the users. Most of the offenders are juveniles or adults aged 18-22. Immediately after snatching mobile phones, they will sell it in the local market.”
“The boys target pedestrians between 8.30 and 10 p.m. Even if we produce the juveniles before the court, they will not be punished. It is discouraging for the police officers as they return to the streets,” said a police officer in Ambattur.
