The kidnappers use the abducted children for pickpocketing in the busy textile markets. Police nabbed two children and recovered cash amounting to Rs1.5 lakh.
With strict police vigil, gangs in Surat are using a new modus operandi for committing crimes at various spots in textile markets - they are using children to commit the crimes. This way they can escape the eye of the police.
Recently, Surat police nabbed three children involved in pick-pocketing and recovered a substantial sum from them.
Those involved are mostly teenagers below 15 years. After undergoing training, they commit crimes with the help of senior gang members. They mostly target traders from other states who visit the textile markets to buy cloth and other merchandise.
"Minor gang members collide with the target and cut his pocket or bag. To prevent any suspicion, stolen items are immediately transferred to senior members," NP Gohil, inspector of crime branch (Surat), said.
According to him, after the crime, gang members flee from the spot and later assemble at a decided spot to divide the booty as fixed earlier. The crime branch nabbed a four-member gang on Saturday involved in pick-pocketing.
Two members were children - Munnashah Salimshah, 11, and Salimshah Aminshah, 14, residents of Kamrunagar in Limbayat. The gang recently stole Rs1.5 lakh from a Delhi-based trader.
While both children got Rs15,000 each, two senior members kept Rs40,000 each. Remaining amount was given to a fifth person who passed on information.
"Most of the children are poor and the easy money attracts them. Minor criminals don't attract attention quickly which makes them successful pick-pockets," said AH Khan, inspector of Salabatpura police station.
All textile markets fall under Salabatpura police station. According to Khan, surveillance is going on to identify the gangs using children. Patrolling and checks have been increased in spots where movement of people is very high during business hours.
Recently, Salabatpura police arrested a gang with a 12-year-old as member. The child, Sikandar Khan, is adept at pick-pocketing.
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