Statistics provided by the Mumbai Police reveal that in the past seven years, nearly Rs 57 crore worth of gold chains were robbed with recovery in such cases being only 19.7 per cent (Rs 11.26 crore). However, compared to 2015, chain-snatching incidents witnessed a dip in 2016.
In 2016, 445 cases of chain-snatching worth Rs 2.96 crore were registered. The detection rate was 55 per cent, in which property only worth Rs 64.68 lakh was recovered. While 909 cases of chain-snatching worth Rs 5.92 crore were registered in 2015, only Rs 1.52 crore worth of property was recovered.
In 2013, Mumbaikars lost over Rs 13.95 crore in the highest number (2,090) of chain-snatching cases that the city witnessed.
The recovery for the year was merely 17.2 per cent with property of only Rs 2.40 crore was recovered.
Speaking about the challenges faced by the Mumbai Police, Sanjay Saxena, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) said, "In most cases, the victims cannot even describe or recognise the accused.The stolen goods are pawned off to shops in another area. Hence, it becomes difficult for the police to recover the stolen goods."
"There needs to be more awareness among shopkeepers when they are buying chains. Sometimes, shopkeepers are also involved. In such cases, the shopkeepers are also booked. With the help of CCTV cameras, vehicle details and witnesses, we find and apprehend those involved, and in the process helps us solve at least two-three cases," Saxena said.
"The increase in police presence on the streets and the CCTV network has seen a reduction in the number of cases in recent times. On the other hand, the implementation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in chain snatching cases has made chain snatchers wary. While there has been a reduction in cases, the detection rate has risen to more than 50 per cent in 2016," he added.
In 2015, the crime branch had set up an Anti Chain-Snatching Unit which is dedicated to solve chain snatching cases.
Ashok Jadhav, one of the victim's brother whose gold chain was stolen over five years ago said, "We have lost all hopes that we will ever recover the gold chain." Another kin of a gold snatching victim, Yogesh Sonwane added, "A mangalsutra is something very dear to a woman, my mother sobbed for days after the incident. Even though the mangalsutra was only over five tolas (unit of gold), it was more of a mental trauma for her than the loss of the property."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "chain-snatching")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}