Chain snatchers roaming without fear

Chain snatching

Chain Snatching 

January 18
February 13
March 12
April 15
May  29

Total      87






There is sudden spurt in chain snatching incidents and emboldened criminals are now targetting elderly woman 

By Dheeraj Fartode

Despite heavy deployment of police personnel on city roads using new vehicles and mobikes, the chain snatching incidents have actually doubled in the month of May. This sudden spurt in chain snatching incidents has also worried city police brass as the data compiled by them shows a dangerous trend of doubling of chain snatching incidents wherein some elderly women was even slapped by the the attackers.
For the first four months of 2013, every alternate day, there was at least one chain snatching case was registered while in May on practically every day, the chain snatchers had a field day. Some even snatched chain of a woman sitting inside the car.
City police brass is facing a peculiar dilemma as most of the chain snatchers are without any criminal past and many of them are college going students or dropouts who indulge in this crime to make fast buck and spent on parties or gadgets. This has forced the city police to dissuade young boys not to cover their faces with scarf, but in absence of strict road vigil, this drive has failed. Now women going for morning walk, attending marriage functions and those near banks are targetted by miscreants and using fast moving bikes, they often stun the victims and flee from the spot with booty.
Commissioner of Police K K Pathak asserted that city police is taking all precautionary measures to avert chain snatching. The police have 23 new four wheelers patrolling vehicles, which are being deployed at 60 vulnerable point every day (four hours at each point). Our Charlie commandos and woman commandos are guarding the city every day. On the day of ‘Vatsavitri’ pooja more than 100 cops were specially on the roads to avert the crime, he said. He further added that city police is going to purchase 100 more batteries for walkie talkie to use the instrument for 24 hours. In the first five months of 2013, crime branch and various police stations have arrested 7 and 9 chain snatchers respectively, he added.
However, retired Special Inspector General of Police Babasaheb Kangale believes that such precautionary measures are not enough to check the crime. City police should start active policing instead of defensive policing, which is not yielding result. Chain snatchers are giving surprise to police while there is predictable and defensive reaction from security agencies, further emboldening the criminals to indulge in this easy way to earn money.
When asked about Charlie commandos, the former officer wondered whether they are patrolling city roads at all. “Their visibility on city roads is a big question mark. Maximum charlies are diverted into other works instead of patrolling,” he said. Every motorcycle of Charlie should be attached with Global Positioning System (GPS), which is available only for Rs 3,000 to 5,000. Earlier, some GPS devices were installed in some motorbikes of police. But, they were tampered by someone. To supervise their activity, the device should be attached to Control room, CP, Joint CP, DCP offices and Police station. This will enable officers from  PI to CP to suddenly check their surveillance, he said. By using such technical means, the government can get value for money and around Rs 20,000 monthly salary paid to each constable can yield good dividends and make them more efficient and accountable.
Commandos in civil dress can also help cops to nab chain snatchers red handed as it has been noticed that chain snatchers drop their plan after observing ‘Khaki’ men in area. Cops must start active policing and conduct surprise checks at receivers of stolen goods. Local police should identify receivers in their area and keep watch on their activities, he added.
Senior officers have already identified areas, where most of the chain snatching were reported. He further raised point about availabilty of manpower at police station level. Many police station are working under tremendous pressure as unavailability of manpower. No of lower rank staff should be increased at every police station for better policing.

Police stations 

Zone I

Sitabuldi  09
Ambazari 09
Wadi 08
MIDC 08
Songeao   12
RP Nagar 14
Total 60

Zone II

Sadar 06
Pachpaoli   14
Gittikhadan 16
Jaripatka     12
Koradi 04
Total 52

Zone III

Lakadganj 14
Tehsil 08
Kotwali 08
Ganeshpeth 07
Kalamna 08
Yashodhara 12
Total 57

Zone IV

Sakkardara 05
Ajni             08
Dhantoli 06
Nandanvan 12
Hudkeshwar 06
Imambada 05
Total 42

Total charlie 211

(Note: This is the number of charlie commandoes who actually patrol roads within their jurisdiction. The information has been given by Police Inspectors of respective stations. Two charlies use one motorbike for patrolling. The figure varies as per workload.)