Chain snatchers having a field day in Vadodara

VADODARA: An evening stroll to the temple turned sour for 61-year-old Kailashben Chauhan when unidentified persons snatched her gold chain worth Rs 40,000 in Karelibaug and fled from the spot. Gangs of chain snatchers seem to be having a field day in the city. Despite heavy police patrolling and CCTVs at major crossroads, incidents of chain snatching are on the rise in the city.
Between January 1 and March 22 this year, 15 incidents of chain snatching were reported across the city. Apart from chain snatching, housewives were duped by unidentified persons posing as cops and ornament dealers.
"We take a walk towards Amiteshwar Mahadev Temple every day after dinner. I usually do not wear gold ornaments, but did on Wednesday as there was a family gathering. After returning from the event at around 9.30 pm, I was walking with my husband when two persons approached on a motorbike and snatched my chain," said Chauhan, a resident of VIP Road.
On Wednesday another housewife from Manjalpur lost her gold chain. While on Thursday morning, two unidentified persons approached Ranjan Kariya on a motorbike and snatched her gold chain worth Rs 50,000 and fled from the spot.
Gold chains worth Rs 9.50 lakh have been robbed from women across the city between January and May this year. Elderly women and middle-aged housewives are the prime targets of the robbers. The accused come in pairs on motorbikes and have their faces covered using either a helmet or a piece of cloth.
While Manjalpur registered five incidents of chain snatching in last four months, Karelibaug witnessed three such incidents. Other areas that reported chain snatching incidents include Sama-Savli Road, Old Padra Road, Tandalja, Sayajigunj and Waghodia Road.
"Most of these incidents occur at isolated place hence people need to be on alert. We have a special squad dedicated to tracking chain snatching incidents and they have arrested three gangs in the past. Police are vigilant and we are hoping to crack the recent incidents," said city police commissioner E Radhakrishana.
Robbers act as victims
Asha Talati was walking home after going to the temple on February 23 when she was approached by three unidentified persons. One of the accused stopped Talati and told her that robbers were snatching chains across the city using knives. After convincing her, another accused asked her to remove her gold bangles and put them in her purse. While she was about to keep the bangles inside, another asked her to wrap them in a handkerchief. The accused later fled with the bangles worth Rs 1.60 lakh.
Be careful while getting chains polished
Usha Vankar, a resident of Ambika Niketan society in Maneja, was robbed off her gold jewellery on January 31. According to Vankar, two unidentified persons convinced her to get her gold chain worth Rs 14,000 polished by them. The accused, who took the chain claiming to polish them, later stole it and fled from the spot. Vankar told the police that the unidentified accused were youths between 20 and 25 years of age.