Snatcher arrested, 5 gold chains recovered

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20

The crime branch of the UT police has arrested a snatcher who, along with his accomplice, had snatched a gold chain from a 70-year-old woman from the lawns of her house in Sector 33 and another chain from a woman at the main door of the house in Sector 22. With his arrest, the police claim to have solved six snatching cases.

DSP (Crime) Jagbir Singh said the notorious snatcher, Dilshad (23), a resident of Raipur Kalan in Chandigarh, was arrested near the Railway Quarters, Mauli Jagran, on October 14. During interrogation, he said he used to commit snatchings along with his accomplice Vicky, a resident of Delhi. Vicky is at large.

The police have recovered five gold chains and a mobile phone from the accused. 

The police said both accused had several cases of snatching registered against them. 

Before committing the crime, the duo used to do a recee of the areas and identity vulnerable targets.

“Mostly, women out on morning or evening walks were targeted by the snatchers,” said a police official.

On August 25, the accused had targeted Dolly Lamba (70), who was standing near the lawns of her house in Sector 33, when Dilshad  walked up to the gate and offered to clean the gate and the floor. Even as she declined to use his services, he did not leave and snatched her chain. Vicky was waiting outside the house on a motorcycle. 

Similarly, the accused had targeted Priya, a resident of Sector 22, when she was entering her house. The accused had snatched the chain from the victim at the main door. 

Accomplice at large

Notorious snatcher Vicky, an accomplice of the accused, is at large. The police claim he has committed around 50 snatchings in the tricity. In a majority of the snatchings, the Pulsar motorcycle was used by the accused.