Mumbai: Childhood friends arrested for chain-snatching after online search for easy money

The Hero Xpulse motorcycle allegedly used by the accused to carry out the crime. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Two childhood friends from Mumbai allegedly turned to chain-snatching after searching online for "easy ways to earn money," police said, in a case where financial stress, poor judgment, and social media influence combined to turn a long friendship into a criminal partnership.

The MHB Colony police cracked the case within 24 hours, arresting both accused and recovering the stolen chain and motorcycle used in the crime.

The accused

Jatin Ramesh Naik, 34, one of the two accused arrested; (right) Hardik Harshadbhai Naik, 25, the second accused held in the chain-snatching case

Residence: Same locality in Goregaon East Police say neither had a prior criminal record.

Case snapshot

Police station:
MHB Colony

Accused:
2 childhood friends

Crime solved in:
24 hours

Recovered:
Gold chain Motorcycle used in crime

What happened

Victim: 24-year-old domestic worker
Chain
purchased in
Oct 2025
Weight:
6.9 grams
. Hardik borrowed his cousin's Hero Xpulse motorcycle.
. Two men on a motorcycle intercepted her.
. The pillion rider snatched the chain and pushed her when she resisted.
. They fled towards Shivaji Nagar.
. A local resident noted the bike number, helping police track the accused.

The incident

Date: February 13, 2026
Time: Around 2.30 pm
Location: Shagun Hotel
junction, Dahisar West

Police action

The operation was carried out under the supervision of...
. DCP (Zone XI) Sandeep Jadhav,
. Senior Inspector Harish Gavli,
. PSI Mangesh Kirpekar,
. PSI Sandeep Gorde, along with the detection team of MHB Colony police station.
An officer said financial pressure and poor judgment drove the crime.
"They had no previous criminal history. Debt and bad decisions pushed them into the offence," the officer said.

Motive police claim

. Investigators said both accused were under financial strain.
. Jatin worked as a delivery executive with loan liabilities
. Hardik was unemployed and in debt
. Police say they searched online for quick-money options and allegedly came across chain-snatching videos

How police cracked it

. CCTV footage traced the bike
. Registration led to suspects
. Both arrested on Feb 14

Items recovered

Chain
(Worth about R96,720)
Hero Xpulse motorcycle