According to a survey published by a city newspaper, the highest number of chain, bag and mobile phone theft cases among city stations are reported at Borivli railway station.
According to railway statistics, the number of cases registered between 2004 and this year (till July 2005) has gone up by 50 per cent.
According to PM More, senior inspector with Borivli railway police, its not the number of crimes that has gone up, but the number of cases being registered.
People have to file a complaint about stolen mobiles because thats the only way they can claim insurance, says More.
Most of these thefts take place during peak hours. The thieves are on patrol, and when its crowded, they not only have easy access but they can also mingle with the crowd and disappear after stealing something, adds More.
He says commuters are most at risk while boarding the trains, and claims that if the thieves are caught, they just pretend they mistakenly came upon the chain, bag or phone while being jostled in the crowd.
Most often the thieves are young children who take advantage of their size to open bags and sneak wallets out, says More, adding, We have noticed that those who picked pockets earlier have now started snatching mobile phones. This is because they are assured at least Rs 1,000 from the resale of a mobile.
He claims that they have often retrieved over eight to 10 phones from one juvenile thief.
Though the number of cases registered has gone up, the police claim theyve retrieved all the jewellery stolen both this year and last.
Our staff dressed in civil clothes patrols the trains and railway platforms, often catching the thieves red-handed, says More, adding that most of them work on the same route and are therefore easily recognisable.
We can spot them in our records on the basis of the complainants description. Whichever way, were on their tail, he adds.
nishitha.nair@mid-day.com
Stats show that cell phones are hot targets Cases (registered between Goregaon to Dahisar) 2004 2005 Chain-snatching 15 5 Pickpocket 21 15 Cut pocket 1 1 Other thefts (includes bag and mobile snatching) 61 92Some victims got their phones back, some didn't
Hemant Setia (34)
Resident of Borivli (E), was robbed in Jan 2005
I was travelling in the train between Goregaon and Malad when I suddenly felt someone tugging at my pocket. I turned to see a man trying to steal my wallet.
Some men in the compartment helped me catch him. We then handed him over to the police at Borivli station.
Vivek Deshpande (17)
Resident of Kandivli (W), was robbed in Feb 2005
I was on my way to college. At Kandivli station, when the train started to move, a man jumped out of the train and started running.
I suddenly realised I could not feel my mobile in my pocket so I jumped off the train too, ran after him and raised an alarm.
On hearing me, another man ran after him, and caught the thief. We then took the thief to the police station. I think that man was a policeman but I am not sure.
Pandarinath Mohite (46)
Resident of Borivli (W), was robbed in May 2005
I was getting off the train at Borivli station when I suddenly felt someones hand in my pocket.
I raised an alarm due to which the thief was caught immediately and handed over to the police.
Thieves modus operandi at station
Chain / earring theft
1. Thieves observe commuters boarding the train
2. As the person is about to board, they snatch the chain or gold hoop earring and flee
3. But, if caught, they let go and get off the train or pretend it was a mistake due to the crowd
Mobile / wallet theft 1
1. The burglar stands on the platform and looks for people who are hanging out of the train pulling in and talking on their phone
2. Just as the train pulls out of the platform, they strike his / her hand and the mobile falls into the thieves hand
Mobile / wallet theft 2
1. If youre a passenger carrying a child, the child is held up front while her bag is pushed behind. A female thief walks up to this lady and pretends to play with the child, whose head is on his mothers shoulder.
2. While playing with the baby, the thief retrieves mobile / wallet from the bag.
concealed by buttoning up
your shirt or wrapping your
saree around your neck. Bag/Wallet Do not dangle your bag behind your back because your wallet can be easily removed. Ensure that no beggar (not even a child) enters the compartment. Hold your bag close to yourself, a place where you can see it. Mobile Do not leave it unattached anywhere. Do not stand at the entrance of the train and talk unless it's urgent. Entangle the cord between your shirt buttons before
dropping it into your pocket. If in a casing, ensure that the cord is clipped on elsewhere. Note Thieves watch out for the ladies coach. A beggar child (usually three to four years old) enters the coach. When the passenger is distracted, the child removes the mobile / wallet.
