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Nigdi, Kothrud are chain snatchers' favourite spots

Areas controlled by defence are least affected; senior citizens targeted the most

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Data available with Pune police on chain snatching incidents in Pune throws up some interesting details and the investigating officers have managed to establish a pattern they believe will allow them to stop the menace. Most astonishing fact that emerges out of the data is that most incidents have been reported from Nigdi (38) and Kothrud (36), two suburbs that are close to Pune-Mumbai highway and Pune- Bangalore highway respectively.

Senior citizens are targeted most- as many as 127 women over age 60 were targeted followed 107 from the age group of 50 to 60 years.

Over 90 per cent of chain snatchings were carried out by duo on bikes- one guy rides motorcycle at great speed, brushes past the victim while the pillion rider snatches away the chain.  

Evading police

The police also found that the chain snatchers have a new modus operandi now. When they realise they could get caught at the nakabandi, they go to a nearby garden, park their bikes and just go to sleep for a while. After a couple of hours when the police vigil is eased out, the duo change their shirts and slip away. Most chain snatchings also happen when there is heavy VVIP movement in town- the police force is busy ensuring the safety and proper movement of the VVIPs in one small area, leaving the neighbourhoods vulnerable to chain snatchers.

Deadly days

Last but not the least- most incidents were reported on Sundays (when women wear their jewelry for weddings and functions) followed by Tuesdays (when women wear them to go to temples). “We have established a pattern and we will now chalk out the strategy to nip the menace in bud,” said Shahaji Solunkhe, additional commissioner of police (crime), Pune police.

Most affected

Nigdi (38) and Kothrud (36), as both the areas are closer to the highway, making it easy for the bike borne culprits to escape from the scene of crime. 

Least affected

Areas around airport, core city, and Cantonment Board are generally avoided by chain snatchers. Airport because VVIP movement ensures vigil in that area, core city because its difficult to escape and Cantonment Board because its controlled by military.

 

But police feel that they have done a good job

Picture this. At 9.10am on Wednesday, Kothrud’s Guru Ganesh Nagar resident Vrushali Bhandari was on her way home when she was suddenly stopped by two unidentified bikers at Suraj Nagar who snatched her gold chain and fled in a fraction, a loss of Rs92,000.

Within five minutes, two unidentified bikers accost Wardhaman Nagar resident Anuvedita Baswa (34) who was on her scooter and snatched her gold chain worth Rs95,000. By the end of the day, there had been three more incidents with a total booty of Rs4.6 lakh stolen.

A casual look at the city’s crime statistics will show that this residential suburb is fast becoming the favourite spot of chain snatchers, earning notoriety as the second most highest such cases in the city.

After the back to back incidents, angry residents mainly women stormed into the Kothrud police station on Thursday and demanded action against this menace.

However, police officials casually waived off these numbers, and in fact patted their backs, telling the irate residents that the number of cases in 2013 had in fact dropped by nearly half as compared to 2012.

Reassuring irate residents, the police said they have intensified the patrolling in the sensitive areas where these incidents have been taking place on a regular basis.

However, the fact remains that police have failed to reign in this menace. They said that the majority of manpower is busy in the bandobast duties during VIP movements and other such events.

Women demand security

After the spate of incidents, several residents mostly women, demanded security for women. Shalini Pawar, a housewife said that there is fear among the women in their area after several incidents of chain snatching took place there. “We demand that extra police force should be given to the Kothrud police station to curb the incidents,” she said. Chaya Bhosale, another housewife said that the chain snatchers while executing the act hurt the elderly women.

‘Fewer cases this year’

Senior police inspector, Kalyan Vidhate said that the though the chain snatching incidents have increased in the area, compared to the last year, the total count has come down. 

“Last year, there were 57 cases registered with the police station , however, this time, only 34 cases have been registered during the same period,” said Vidhate.

He added that though our majority of the staff is busy with the bandobast duties, we are conducting foot patrolling in the sensitive areas. We are even going to the housing societies to create awareness amongst the people to stay alert from chain snatchers and the fake police,” he said.

Crime zones

Kothrud area is one of the hot favourite areas among the chain snatchers as it is easy for them to sneak away to after executing the chain snatching and escape through the adjoining highway. The most affected areas in the Kothrud that frequently witness chain snatching incidents are Mahatma Society, Bhusari Colony, Alankar Society, Karve Nagar, Dahanukar and chain snatchers target only elderly women who go for morning or evening walks.

 

Honest housewife finds gold chain, returns it to cops

This 44-year-old resident of Kothrud will be known for her honesty. Surekha Shinde, who was on her evening walk to the hill top near the Mahatma Society, found a broken gold chain in the bushes. She immediately approached the Kothrud police station and handed it over to them.

“I was on my evening walk with a friend on Tuesday and had gone to the hill top near Mahatma Society. I spotted a gold chain which was lying in the bushes and immediately picked it up and handed it to the cops,” said Shinde.

Police inspector Kalyan Vidhate of the Kothrud police station said, “We suspect that the chain snatchers might have snatched the chain of some woman in the area and might have gone to the hill in order to hide, where the gold chain fell on the ground.” 

He said that they have approached several complainants , however, no one has yet claimed the ownership. “The gold chain has a mark of a city-based jeweller. We will be approaching them to track the owner,” he added.

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