Bengaluru: The South-East Division police have nabbed five members of Bavaria gang for chain-snatching at various places in the city.
The police have identified the arrested persons as Jayaprakah alias Jay alias Varun Kumar, 22, Nithin Kumar alias Nithin, 21, Jithendra alias Jithendra, 22, Kapil Kumar, 25, and Nanda Kishore alias Nanda, 35.
“All are from Allauddinpura in Shamali district in Uttar Pradesh,’’ Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar told reporters on Thursday.
With the arrest of the accused, the police have detected around 30 chain-snatching cases reported in Mico Layout, Tilak Nagar, JP Nagar, Kengeri, RMC Yard, Jayanagar, KS Layout, Subramanyapura, and Jnanabharathi police station limits.
“The accused belong to notorious Bavaria gang. They came to Bengaluru by flight,’’ the Police Commissioner said.
According to the police, the accused persons hail from 12 villages such as Jattaan, Mastghad, Khobsa, Khedi, Ahmedghad, Chota Khanapur, Rampur, Allauddinpur, Brahmayan, Nayaabaan, and Doodli village in Shamali district in Western Uttar Pradesh. All these villages are situated in eight to 10 square kms.
“All of them belong to Bavaria community,’’ the Police Commissioner said.
The police have recovered 678 grams of 15 gold chains worth Rs 20 lakh and a two-wheeler from the arrested persons.
According to the police, the accused persons came to Bengaluru by train or flight and rented houses in densely populated areas. They bring a two-wheeler with them and indulge in chain-snatching once or twice a month and go to UP to dispose of the booty.
“I advise the people of Bengaluru to be cautious while renting their homes to the strangers. They have to verify about the prospective tenants with the jurisdictional police. I advise senior citizens, especially women, not to go alone for a walk in the morning,’’ the Police Commissioner said.
The Police Commissioner handed over the gold chains to the victims.
“I was drawing Rangoli when the accused approached me. He pretended to be lost and asked me for direction. He snatched my chain within a fraction of a second while I was giving him the direction. I tried to scream for help but there was none to come to my rescue. I chased him as much as I could but in vain,’’ Dhanalakshmi P, a home-maker from JP Nagar said.
The police said Jayaprakash alias Jay alias Varun Kumar hails from Allauddin village of Shamali district in Uttarpradesh is an expert in snatching chains from women. It was said the accused has been staying in Bengaluru for the last three months. He used to ride as pillion on the bike used for snatching chains. He had involved in lifting eight vehicles at Karnal in Haryana. The court has sentenced him to judicial custody. He came to Bengaluru after availing bail in that case.
The Bavaria gang members were involved in chain-snatching cases reported in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Bengaluru. The police have detected those cases by arresting them.
“The accused was involved in similar cases reported in Delhi, Haryana, and Mumbai. We are in touch with Delhi police to know more details about Bavaria gang members,’’ the Police Commissioner said.
