Criminals switch roles for maximum ‘profit’

Recent trend of crimes against property suggests that Ahmedabad is becoming a favourable playground for thieves and chain-snatchers. Figures provided by the police department suggest that between September 6 and September 20, city-dwellers lost cash and valuables worth about Rs1 crore to thieves and chain-snatchers.  

In these two weeks, 19 incidents of chain-snatching, 21 incidents
of housebreaks and 18 incidents of thefts took place in different parts of the city, including posh areas of Satellite, Vastrapur, Navrangpura and Ellisbridge.

According to the figures, city-dwellers lost Rs39.39 lakh in housebreaks, Rs51.76 lakh in thefts, and Rs7.36 lakh in chain-snatching incidents. These figures do not include several vehicle thefts from the city in the same period.

Though criminals were caught by cops at regular intervals, there is no respite to such incidents, particularly those of chain-snatching. It is important to mention here that with the aim of curbing the menace of chain-snatchers, cops had initiated an exercise in 2011.

At that time, top police officials had called for more than 20 listed chain-snatchers at Gujarat University (GU) police station and questioned them about their activities they carried on then.

Cops had even put up a large poster of these chain snatchers at different police stations stating ‘Beware of these chain-snatchers’. However, recent rise in chain snatching incidents proves that the exercise hasn’t produced any concrete result.

During investigation, cops have learned that chain-snatchers don’t stick to only one business. According to MR Sharma, senior police inspector with Vastrapur, these criminals keep changing their activity according to the police action.

“They don’t snatch chains all the time. When we focus on that crime, they turn to housebreak or to thefts from parked vehicles,” said Sharma, who has ordered early morning patrolling to curb the menace in his area.

Investigation also revealed that there were five to six gangs involved in such crimes. “During interrogation of chain-snatchers, we have learned that they have organised their activities and formed gangs. One of the gangs is known as Khan Gang,” said Sharma.

According to PM Sarvaiya, senior police inspector with Navrangpura, majority of the crimes are committed by gangs whose members are natives of other states. These gangs come here for a short time and flee to their native places outside Gujarat after making as much as they can through such crimes.