Lone, unarmed snatchers on the prowl

Gone are the days when gangs of snatchers armed with country-made weapons took to their dangerous enterprise in north Delhi areas. These days, it is the lone unarmed, though seemingly more desperate assailant, who confronts hapless victims.

Gone are the days when gangs of snatchers armed with country-made weapons took to their dangerous enterprise in north Delhi areas. These days, it is the lone unarmed, though seemingly more desperate assailant, who confronts hapless victims.

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On March 7, an unarmed assailant was chased down and arrested after he snatched an autorickshaw driver’s cellphone in full public glare in Nabi Karim.

“On March 9, an assailant, who was walking, snatched the gold chain of Savitri Devi, 62, in Daryaganj. The incident took place while she was sitting on a cycle rickshaw near a traffic light,” said a police officer.

Next day, a thief tried to flee with some ornaments at a jeweller’s shop in Nabi Karim, but was arrested. Similarly, on Sunday, one Pintu who was allegedly trying to steal plastic pipes installed at the rear side of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, but was overpowered by guards and handed over to the police.

Police attribute the emerging trend to ‘sustained and comprehensive action’ against criminal gangs, especially snatchers. Delhi Police records say snatching registered a decline of over 11% in 2011 compared to 2010.

“Our emphasis is on neutralising criminal gangs completely instead of increasing the number of arrests. Petty crimes are now being executed by lone, desperate miscreants who look for his/ her daily doze of some cheap drug,” the officer said.