Three held for chain-snatching

KOCHI: The Palarivattom police have nabbed three persons regularly involved in chain snatching. The prime accused Sibi, 32 years from Chalikkavattom was caught first, on a tip off. His arrest followed that of Nawaz, 38, from Palluruthy, who was picked up from Aluva and Chenda Suresh, 40, from Eroor. V Gopakumar, sub-inspector, Palarivattom, at a press meet, said that the modus operandi of the gang was to identify old women, especially above 70 years, and watch their movements and plan the chain snatching. For this the gang would use stolen motor bikes, he said. The police was able to catch this gang when a case relating to chain snatching was registered earlier in the month by one Ammu, 74 years. The only clue they had got from the case was that the motor cycle of Hero Honda make had a registration number ending in ‘17’.