Mira Road police arrest three for snatching chains

Mumbai: The Mira Road police has arrested a man who committed chain snatching offences in the city by travelling to and from his hometown in Delhi.

Two residents who helped the accused identified as Akash Lal (23) in procuring the new brand motorcycle and providing logistical support have also been arrested. However, one of his accomplice (name withheld) is still at large.

Alarmed by the sudden spurt in chain snatching cases during the festive season last month, Thane (rural) SP Dr Mahesh Patil deputed the detection branch to conduct investigations and nab the culprits who had created panic in the city, especially among women.  

A team led by assistant police inspector Prakash Pawar and sub-inspector B.K. Jadhav under the supervision of senior police inspector Shrikant Padhule intensified vigil and activated their informer network.

With the help of CCTV cameras, the team analysed the pattern of the movements of the bike-borne chain snatchers and realised that the miscreants were using a brand new TVS Apache to commit the crimes.

Armed with the clue and blurry images of the bike-borne culprits, the police team fanned out to check two-wheeler showrooms in and around the region and managed to zero it on a recently made purchase by Mira Road resident Vimal Singh who was immediately taken into custody.

Questioning revealed that Singh had purchased the bike on behalf of Lal who along with his accomplice went on a chain snatching spree, before leaving for Delhi with the stolen booty.

The police team left for Delhi and after camping there for five days finally managed to apprehend Lal on Saturday with the help of their Delhi counterparts.