Chain-snatchers rob 19 tola gold from four women in two hours

HYDERABAD: Chain-snatchers created terror among womenfolk in the city on Sunday and stole 19 tolas of gold in just two hours. The bike-borne thieves had a field day on the stretch between Secunderabad and Gudimalkapur, the part of the city that police proudly claim to be under CCTV surveillance, but, surprisingly, they could neither prevent nor nab the offenders.
At around 10.30 am, the two snatchers travelling on a black Pulsar bike (an eye witness said that the registration number was AP 09 7172/7192) snatched a 2.5-tola gold chain from 58-year-old housewife Rekha Teki of West Marredpally. Rekha was waiting on the road near Paradise restaurant while her husband had gone to buy idli from a roadside vendor when the incident took place.
“After the incident, the thieves sped away towards CTO. There were cameras installed in front of shops near Paradise restaurant, but unfortunately the camera, where the incident took place, was not working,” Mahankali inspector K Satyanarayana said.
At around 11.15 am, the black Pulsar duo reached Saifabad and snatched a 2.5-tola gold chain from a housewife, Purnakumari, who was waiting at the All India Radio (AIR) bus stop. Purnakumari from Vijayawada was waiting for a bus to go to LB Nagar when the incident took place.
Again at 12 noon, the duo struck, this time making off with an 11-tola gold chain from housewife Anita near pillar No. 29 of PVNR Expressway at Retibowli near Mehdipatnam. And at 12.30 pm, they stole a three-tola gold chain from another housewife Vinolia at Gudimalkapur agricultural market and sped away towards Mehdipatnam.
“Some CCTV visuals of the offenders we received were very hazy and now the main traffic control staff are analysing the surveillance camera footages to zero in on the offenders. We got a partial registration number and will search the RTA database to get clues,” Asifnagar inspector K Srikanth said.
In all the incidents, police have registered cases under section 382 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The snatchings took place near Para- dise restaurant in Secunderabad, AIR bus stop, Retibowli and Gudimalkapur. Police said that they have received hazy CCTV visuals of the offenders and are analysing the footage.