CHENNAI: Five Delhi-based men who managed to purchase a second-hand motorbike in the city with their Aadhaar card and driving licence, were found to be involved in as many as 23 chain-snatching incidents reported in the last one month, the city police claimed.
On Saturday, the police nabbed two of them and recovered 25 sovereign gold jewellery.They have now launched a search for the other three. The police claimed that the series of seven chain snatchings that happened within eight hours on Monday last were also committed by the duo.
Joint Commissioner of Police (East) S Manoharan told newspersons on Sunday that A Sanjay alias Vijaypaul (42) and J Sandeep (30) were picked up near Central Railway station on Saturday night when they had come to take their motorbike.
He said the five men came by air to Chennai on July 4.
“They booked a room at a lodge at Sowcarpet and purchased a motorbike, by producing their Aadhaar card and driving licence. They visited various places in Chennai. Whenever they spotted any woman or elderly citizen walking alone, they would snatch their chain and escape,” he said.
The men wore helmets to conceal identity and would also ensure there was no Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera coverage at the place of crime. Yet, the police traced them using CCTV footage, which showed up their motorbike registration number at the crime spot, an investigation officer said.
Special teams were formed to nab the suspects.
“In the CCTV footage, the vehicle registration number was not very clear, but with the last digit and bike model, the team searched all government and private parking areas in the city, including all railway stations and bus stands. Finally, the bike was spotted at Central Railway Station,” the officer said.
On Saturday, the duo had come to take the bike when they were nabbed by the police.
“The two would rob jewellery and take it by train to Delhi to avoid frisking. A special team has gone to Delhi to conduct inquiries and to nab the remaining three who are still at large,” the officer said.
“Ironically, the men who committed the crime in the city bought an apartment in Delhi, which also has a security guard,” the officer pointed out.
Both Sanjay and Sandeep are history-sheeters and have around 35 pending cases against them in Delhi, the officer said.