Maha man, wanted for 30 chain snatchings in Hyd, nabbed in city

Chennai: A notorious chain snatcher , who has more than 30 cases pending against him in Hyderabad, was arrested in Chennai on Sunday after the men in khaki travelled nearly 2,000km in pursuit of him. He was wanted by the city police in connection with four chain snatching cases reported in and around Anna Nagar since December last year.

Amol Bala Saheb Shinde, 29, of Parbhani in Maharashtra, arrested by a special team, was remanded in judicial custody on Monday. The team was formed after three chain snatching cases were reported on December 16, 19 and 29 last year. When suspect details were shared during the search, the Maharashtra and Telangana police identified him to be an offender wanted in their jurisdictions for several snatchings. They also shared 50 CCTV footage from the scenes of crimes in their limits for perusal.

The city police, while examining surveillance footage recorded in Anna Nagar, found that he had used a two-wheeler stolen from Hyderabad. Amol struck again in Anna Nagar on February 1, following which city police intensified the search. He was arrested during a vehicle check.

As many as 20 sovereigns of jewellery and a two-wheeler were seized from Amol.

According to a press note released by the Cyberabad police, Amol operated based on tip-offs given by prison inmates whom he had befriended and exchanged phone numbers with. He worked as a driver and has been involved in chain snatching since 2013. He committed the crime to spend money on booze and women, the note added.