Police put brakes on chain-snatcher

Shadab Riyaz Khan won many accolades after participating in bike races in the city, but instead of developing his talent the Mira Road resident used it to earn a quick buck.
The MHB police, Borivili, recently arrested Khan for allegedly snatching chains. “We had been receiving complaints of chain-snatching for the past few weeks. A special team was formed to trace the people involved in it,” said senior inspector Krushna Gaikwad, MHB Colony police station.

Gaikwad said that they received specific information that Khan was allegedly the key person involved in the crime. “During interrogation, he broke down and confessed that he was involved in over 50 cases of chain-snatching in Borivili, Dahisar and Kandivili areas,” said Gaikwad.

According to the police, Khan is a trained biker and owns three modified Yamaha bikes (worth Rs5 lakh). Explaining Khan’s modus-operandi, Gaikwad said that he would target women wearing gold jewellery, especially a mangalsutra. “Even before the victim could realise what had happened, he would zoom away on his bike,” said Gaikwad.
The police said Khan had modified his bikes to increase their speed. Interestingly, Khan was very confident that he could complete the task alone. Unlike other chain-snatchers, he preferred not to have a pillion rider. The police said that Khan was a Class 10 dropout and resorted to chain-snatching after he failed to get a job.