A battle with ‘snatching’ menace

Believe it or not but the Capital witnesses at least one case of snatching an hour on average. And that’s not all. Data shows that from 2011 to 2015, incidents of snatching doubled more than eightfold showing that perpetrators were becoming more bold about targeting victims and stealing from them. As for 2017, police data shows that 5,682 cases of snatching have been registered till August, suggesting that the total number of cases may go beyond other years by this year-end.

Police say that the victims of snatching are usually women and especially elderly women. This fact was borne out on Monday when a 50-year-old woman almost died when she fell off a moving auto while resisting a snatching bid from two bike borne men who were trying to take her purse. Senior police officials stated that doctors told them that the woman might lose her memory permanently.

As far as dealing with snatching was concerned, a senior police officer told DNA that a stricter law is required to curb the menace, as mostly juveniles who are often active gang-members, commit this crime.

“Protected by law, these juveniles commit …read more