City police too smart for chain-snatchers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A sudden rise in the number of chain-snatching cases in the city has prompted the City Police to fight fire with fire. The City Police have roped in expert motorcycle riders in the Department to act against the chain-snatchers. In all the reported cases so far, the snatchers rode fast motorcycles, hence the new move. These riders were made part of the special squads formed to check the rising menace. They started their operation in the city the other day and have already arrested three suspects in this regard. As many as 16 squads comprising expert riders and experienced policemen who have a thorough knowledge of the history-sheeters in their locality were formed the previous day.The teams are led by officers of Inspector rank. These teams will roam the city, booking known snatchers. The riders in the team have been hand-picked from the young policemen at Armed Police camps for their proficiency in riding a motorcycle fast. The City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said that chain-snatchings have increased as there is a huge inflow of people to the city owing to the start of pilgrim seasons at Sabarimala and Vettucaud. It was following this that the Department took a decision to book all known chain-snatchers in the city, as part of which the special squads have been formed. The squads will also comb the city for new entrants. ‘’The squads will also comb places outside the city since most chain-snatchers come from outside,’’ said the Commissioner. He also added that the special squads were not a permanent setup and they will be operative only until the end of December. ‘’By that time, the Department will devise better measures to curb the menace,’’ he said. Manoj Abraham also said that the police have identified the suspects behind a series of chain-snatchings that took place at four different parts in the city the other day. The police have also discovered that it was members of the same gang that had executed the crime.