The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Chain-snatchers travelled in own car, took children along

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 27, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chain-snatchers travelled in own car, took children along

Staff Reporter

Chennai: A six-member gang allegedly involved in chain snatching incidents at temples across the State over the past one year has been busted by the police. The gang members were arrested and 1.25 kilogram of gold jewellery and two four-wheelers, together valued at Rs.25 lakh, were seized from them.

Commissioner of Police Letika Saran told press persons here on Tuesday following complaints about women losing or finding their ‘mangalsutra’ missing at temple festivals, a special police team was formed, which had nabbed the accused.

On Friday, when police were monitoring the devotees at a temple festival in Vyasarpadi, they detained a woman on charges of snatching a chain from a woman. Interrogation revealed that a gang was behind the ‘operation.’

Consequently, the police team arrested Kasturi (30), Meenakshi (37), Rajamani (55) and Illango. Two other members of the gang M. Suresh (25) and K. Sekar (25) of Thanjavur Pudupattinam were arrested later.

Police said that the gang visited temples in Tiruvallur, Dindigul, Palani, Thanjavur and Tiruchi at the time of festivals. The crowds made it easy for the gang members to steal valuables from the victims and escape. The gang was also allegedly involved in chain snatching in temples in and around the city. To avoid suspicion, the gang members, who were related to one another, went about in their own four-wheeler and took their children along.

The gang had admitted to having committed 35 such crimes, police said.

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