Date:14/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/14/stories/2003071406890300.htm

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Chain-snatching gang held

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JULY 13. The city police have arrested a two-member autorickshaw-borne gang, which used ingenious ways to rob women of gold chains.

The arrested were identified as Sivakumar and Rajamanickam, brothers.

Their involvement in about 30 chain-snatching cases came to light following their interrogation, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, K. P. Shanmugarajeswaran, told mediapersons today. A total of 1,250 grams of gold jewellery were recovered from them. The police were on the lookout for a third accomplice.

The accused were detained during a vehicle check at Rangarajapuram. The members would allegedly target women visiting temples or markets and befriend them. They would invite the victims to drop them off in an autorickshaw and rob them on the way.