News
All that glitters attract chain snatchers in search of easy money
With the price of gold on the rise, gold chain snatchers are on the prowl, to make an easy buck, by targeting women, sometimes causing injuries to them, police have warned.
Sea Street Colombo: Jewellery shop owners advise public to buy jewellery from reputed jewellers. Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
The latest incident occurred at Gangadara Mawatha in Mount Lavinia. CCTV footage showed two men snatching a gold chain from a woman as she opens the gate to a house. The chain was valued at Rs. 100,000.
Police said the footage shows two men on a motorbike asking directions from the woman before one of them snatches the gold chain from her and they get away on the bike.
The woman tries to stop them but she loses her balance and falls. She suffered minor injuries.
Based on the CCTV footage police have arrested the suspects, Malan Chandradasa (36) a resident of Borella and Kuruupuge Sumith Pushpakumara( 36) a resident of Matale, in Borella.
The gold chain had been melted at a jewellery shop in New Chetty Street, Kotahena. The gold and the bike used for the crime have been recovered and the suspects have been remanded until tomorrow.
Two weeks ago in Moneragala two men had snatched a necklace from a woman who was working at a private company. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Samagipura junction in Sevanagala. The woman had got off a bus and was walking home on a lonely, poorly lit stretch of road when the two suspects on a motorbike blocked her path and snatched her chain. The men were arrested and the chain was recovered, police said.
Last month, one of the suspects had snatched a gold chain from a woman who was preparing for a Bodhi Poojawa at the Sevanagala Namalgama temple. He had fled the scene in a three wheeler parked nearby. The chain and pendent were valued at Rs. 146,000.
Pettah police OIC Githika Bodhipaksha said chain snatching is now one of the most common acts of crime occurring on roadsides.
He said many chain snatching incidents are reported from Pettah because of the large mingling crowds at any given time.
“We need to deploy more officers to deter thieves from acts of pick pocketing and chain snatching that are on the rise,” he said.
He also said people who apprehend such suspects should desist from assaulting them and instead hand them over to police. He said when people beat a suspect he could even swallow the chain. In addition if the suspect sustains injuries then police have to take him to hospital and are unable to place him in custody. The officer also advised anyone carrying valuables in handbags or backpacks to sling them in front, especially if they are in a crowded place like Pettah,
Police said chain snatching incidents in Colombo’s suburbs and in rural areas occur mainly in secluded areas or lonely stretches of roads.
Wattala Police OIC Nishantha Gunawardena said a majority of the incidents in the area are reported from Alwis town, Awariwatta road and Elakanda.
“Most of the suspects who have been arrested for snatching chains are drug addicts. It’s a quick source of cash for them. They sell the chains for a lesser price than the actual value, but since the gold market value is high they still get a large sum,” he said.
He said they have deployed intelligence officers and officers clad in civvies to curb these incidents, while CCTV footages are being used to nab suspects.
Kandy police Chief Inspector E. Sanjeewa Mahanama said victims should make complaints immediately after the incident so that they can act swiftly. We can check the CCTV cameras in the vicinity, he said.
An employee at a jewellery shop said that the current price of un-worked 22 carat gold sovereign is Rs 65,000 while a worked 22 carat sovereign is between Rs 75,000 and 78,000.
He said they were aware that gold chain snatchers would try to sell stolen jewellery therefore they sell jewellery and buy used jewellery from trusted customers who want to buy new jewellery by exchanging old jewellery items.
He also advised people to buy jewellery from reputed jewellers.
Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General Amarasiri Senaratne said that it was important that people reported thefts such as chain snatching to the police as soon as possible.
He said many avoid making a complaint because lodged court cases take years to be solved. He said some are apprehensive of making it public when valuable chains are stolen.
He stressed that even if the snatched chain was not so valuable it was important to report it because police could then see if similar incidents had occurred in any particular area and take necessary actions such as deploy teams to apprehend the suspect/suspects.
He also said since many of the women are targeted by chain snatchers when they are walking back from work on their own, they should attempt to cover any piece of jewellery especially necklaces with a part of their attire.
“Women should try to wear imitation necklaces as a day-to-day basis and only wear valuable gold necklaces for some special function, he further said.
According to the National Coordinator (Training) Accident and Orthopaedic Service at the National Hospital, Pushpa R. Zoysa at least one injury is reported a month due to chain snatching,
She said one could sustain cuts, bruises and in some cases even get chocked when a necklace is pulled from one’s neck. She also said victims sometimes fall after losing balance when suspects tugg at their chains while travelling on a motorbike or three wheeler. In more serious cases they could sustain head injuries or fractures by falling.