Chandigarh: With the city seeing a snatching every two days, a pattern has emerged where women are easy prey and are targeted under the same modus operandi. Snatchers first do a recce and ensure they know a safe route to escape. After the snatchers on a bike spot an easy prey, usually an elderly woman, the pillion rider steps down and starts conversation, whereas the driver stays away at a convenient distance.

A total of 115 cases of snatching have been reported in the city in 180 days from August 2016 to January 2017. A solitary stroll appears to be a dangerous undertaking. The spate of snatching cases also falsifies the police claim that snatchers generally strike in summer when gold jewellery is not hidden under layers of clothing.

In 2016, 22 snatching cases were reported in August, there were 24 cases in September, 25 in October, 7 in November, 23 in December and 14 in January. According to the police, most of the cases are reported in the southern sectors. Policemen, on condition of anonymity, said patrolling does not work well as the incident can occur at any place, any time. In a study, the police found most of the snatchers are drug addicts.Two snatching incidents have been reported from the city. While an unidentified motorcycle-borne miscreant snatched a purse on the road separating Sectors 21 and 34 on Thursday night, a mobile phone was snatched from a pedestrian at Dariya village.
Snatching from August 2016 to January 2017
August – 22

September – 24

October – 25

November – 7

December – 23

January 2017 – 14

For more news updates Follow and Like us on Facebook