Mumbai: Now, crooks enter homes, snatch chains off residents’ necks

Representational Pic/istock

Chain snatchings are a notorious menace on Mumbai's streets, but in two separate incidents in the western suburbs on August 15, thieves entered homes to grab gold ornaments off the women living there.

The first incident took place around 6.43 pm, in Kandivli's Samta Nagar area. According to police, the accused, who was identified as Roshan Jha upon arrest, barged into complainant Manisha Navle's house at Shivaji Maidan. He struck her mother, Chanda, with his fists, threatening to kill her if she screamed for help. He then snatched Chanda's gold mangalsutra - weighing approximately 5 grams and worth Rs 25,000 - and fled. The accused was traced and arrested the same day by Investigating Officer PSI Nikita Kolapkar with the help of the detection staff.

The second incident was reported to the Goregaon police by Saralaben Pradeepkumar Parikh, 75, residing at Jawahar Nagar, SV Road, Goregaon West. She told them that on the night of August 15, while she was cooking, an acquaintance identified as Haroon Shelia entered her residence. He allegedly confronted her over a money dispute, then forcibly pulled a 2-tola gold chain worth about '70,000 from her neck and fled. The police registered an FIR and are looking for the accused.