The recent arrest of a Delhi chain snatching gang by Chennai police has revealed a disturbing trend that gangs in northern and other parts of the country are looking at the city as a soft target.
On Wednesday, police arrested two people, Sanjay, (42) and J Sandeep, (30).
They told police that after reaching Chennai, gangs split up into different groups.
The gang reportedly had made up to 10 trips to Chennai and has about 36 criminal cases in Delhi.
Reportedly, there have been 40 cases of chain snatching cases in the last month in the city.
The Times of India reported that gangs from Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jharkhand have been involved in thefts, break-ins, chain snatching and robbery in Chennai.
Moreover, the Chennai police have noted a pattern which is different from the way local criminals operate.
They say that the interstate gangs target women in crowded places whereas local criminals operate in isolated places.
Moreover, these groups do not stop with one theft, they continue it for a short period of time.
A police officer told TOI that gangs fly to Chennai in groups and then split up into smaller groups using second-hand motorcycles that they purchase and target the residents.
After their work is done, they usually leave the bikes in parking lots in Koyambedu, Chennai Airport, Egmore or Chennai Central and go back wearing the stolen chains.
Police also said that some of them stay in lodges pretending to be couples and some of them rent houses for a short time.
Police also feel that Chennai is a prime target because people here wear more gold than in other states.