Thwarted chain-snatchers flee

Two bike-borne chain-snatchers fired a round in the air to scare local residents who cornered them in Borivli on Friday night.

Two bike-borne chain-snatchers fired a round in the air to scare local residents who cornered them in Borivli on Friday night.

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The attempt was thwarted after the locals intervened. The two sped away on their motorbike. Borivli police said it occurred at around 7.45 pm at Dharma Nagar in Borivali (W). The accused had tried to snatch the chain of a 55-year-old housewife, Sneha Patil (55) when she was out shopping.

“The pillion rider tried to snatch Patil’s gold chain but was unsuccessful because she held on to it,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. Patil, a resident of Gokhale Road at Borivli (W) was shopping with her daughter-in-law when it happened.

Patil then raised an alarm and alerted passersby and locals.

“They immediately surrounded the miscreants, tried to overpower them, even hurled stones at them,” said Sanjay Bannerjee, deputy commissioner of Police, Zone XI.

“Realising they were in trouble, one of the robbers whipped out a gun and fired a round in the air. The bystanders were scared and immediately backed off, and the accused rode away on their bike,” the officer added.

“While the rider was wearing a helmet, the pillion rider’s face was uncovered,” he said. The MHB police have registered a case of attempted robbery and are trying to trace the bike used in the crime.

“We have the vehicle number, we will also be checking on habitual offenders from the area,” Bannerjee added.