Three chain-snatchers held; booty worth Rs 9 lakh recovered

Three chain-snatchers, allegedly involved in a slew of crimes in the district, were arrested and stolen goods worth Rs 9.23 lakh recovered from them, police said today.
"Asif Shabbir Sayeed (52), Ajmad Sahabur Jaffri (32) and Mohamad Akil Adil Bhurania (29) have at least 52 cases, most of which are of chain-snatching and motorcycle-lifting, registered against them in Mira Road and Vasai sub-divisions", SP (Rural) Anil Kumbhare told reporters at press conference here.
The trio were arrested yesterday, the SP said.
Explaining the modus operandi, he said the accused would pose as policemen and target their victims, mostly women, by "cautioning" them against wearing gold jewellery in market places and ask them to remove it and keep it in carry bag.

They would decamp with the booty by diverting attention of their victims, he said, adding that sometimes they would snatch chains from women walking on road.
"Police seized two motorcycles, one of which stolen from Charkop near suburban Kandivali, and also gold ornaments of 471 gms, all collectively worth at Rs 9.23 lakh. The trio has confessed to a total of 25 crimes", Kumbhare said.