Chain Snatcher Returns to Crime Soon After Jail Release, Arrested by Anand Vihar Police

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has tightened its grip on cunning criminals who target pedestrians—particularly women—by snatching their gold chains. A specialised team from the Anand Vihar police station in the Shahdara district has arrested a habitual chain snatcher, solving three separate cases. The accused has been identified as 33-year-old Shoaib (also known as Suheb or Sohaib Ali), a resident of Welcome, Delhi. The police have also recovered the Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle used in the commission of these crimes.

Shahdara District DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena stated that a man on a motorcycle snatched an approximately eight-gram gold chain from a woman near the entrance of the Delhi Administrative Flats in Karkardooma around 1:30 PM. An FIR was registered, and the police initiated an investigation.

Over 100 CCTV camera feeds were analysed to track down the accused

To track the suspect, the police team examined footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras, covering both the crime scene and the escape routes. Technical analysis revealed that the motorcycle's registration number had been altered. The investigation identified the vehicle's actual registration number as DL5SDL-XX03. It was discovered that while the motorcycle was registered in the name of an individual named Sahil, it was being used by his brother, Shoaib.

Acting on local intelligence, the police laid a trap on November 1st and apprehended the accused along with the motorcycle. During interrogation, it was revealed that he used to evade the police by altering the digits on the number plate using a black marker. The accused has five prior cases of snatching registered against him and had been released from jail only on October 17.

This operation was carried out by a team comprising Sub-Inspector Ashok Rajbania, Assistant Sub-Inspector Deepak Kumar, Head Constable Lokesh, and Head Constable Rajkumar. The action was taken under the guidance of Station House Officer (SHO) Manish Kumar and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pawan Kumar. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the Shahdara district, Rajendra Prasad Meena.