Spurt in snatchings, 19 since July in Chandigarh

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

The city has witnessed a spurt in snatching incidents with 19 snatchings reported since July this year.

It has already witnessed 53 snatching incidents this year till August of which the police have managed to solve only 24 cases. The snatchings in the past around two months after the lockdown restrictions were eased have witnessed a spurt.

Snatchers have targeted morning and evening walkers, majorly in southern sectors of the city, instilling fear among residents. While several incidents were caught on CCTV cameras, the police are yet to make a headway.

A total of 19 snatching incidents have been reported from July till August 22, including nine snatchings this month, while 10 snatching incidents were reported in July itself. Besides, six incidents were reported in June.

The number of incidents reported between March 23 and May 12 was only six.

UT police spokesperson DSP Charanjit Singh Virk said with the arrest of several snatchers, the police had worked out 24 snatching cases and investigations in other cases were on. The DSP said with the movement of people in the city, the snatchers had also got active. "However, we are laying nakas in the city to check street crime, including snatching." Police officials, meanwhile, claim there is a dip in snatching incidents this year in comparison to the past two years.

Other crime incidents in Chandigarh

This year, Chandigarh has already witnessed 12 robbery incidents, while 36 incidents were reported last year. As many as 48 burglaries have been reported this year till August in comparison to 123 reported last year. Meanwhile, this year, 239 vehicles have been stolen. The number was 599 in 2019.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/34sRClw