Cops throw ring around Anna Nagar to curb chain snatching

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-02-03/chennai/46962307_1_chain-snatching-anna-nagar-chain-snatching-incidents

Feb 3, 2014, 05.31AM IST

CHENNAI: The sudden spurt in incidents of chain snatching in Anna Nagar has forced police to throw a ring around the locality. Vehicles checks have been intensified, more plainclothesmen are on duty and barricades will be placed at all entry points to the locality.

Last week, on Wednesday night and Thursday alone, there were more than eight chain-snatching incidents in the city of which three took place in JJ Nagar, Nolambur and Thirumangalam in Anna Nagar. Police said in the last month, Anna Nagar district had reported a majority of the chain-snatching incidents.

Police found that the robbers take U-turns if they see officers on the road. "We have assigned police personnel in plainclothes on the stretches prone to robberies. If plainclothesmen see a suspicious vehicle they will alert personnel at the next check post to keep an eye on it. If the same vehicle tries to take a U-turn again, it will be cornered by another set of police," a senior police officer said.

Most of the robberies took place early in the morning when women were drawing kolams in front of their houses. Police said more than 19 of the 83 chain-snatching complaints registered in the city in December 2013 were from Anna Nagar.

Following the rise in robberies, a senior police officer conducted a review meeting to observe the modus operandi of the thieves. The officer said, "We found that many robberies were reported between 5.30am and 6.30am when there are very few beat police and vehicles on the road."

So police have decided to put barricades at all entry points to the streets and have police personnel manning them. "We have instructed police to conduct vehicle checks from 5am onwards," the officer said.