Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Arrest 3 Notorious Chain Snatchers; Solve 6 Cases, Recover ₹3.30 Lakh

Ravet: Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have arrested three notorious criminals involved in chain snatching, officials said on Monday. A total of six cases registered against them have been solved, and property worth ₹3,30,000 has been seized from them. The action was carried out by the Detection Branch (DB) of Ravet Police Station.

The accused have been identified as Balaji Raju Umap (age 20), a minor (both residents of Gultekdi), and Yash Harish Khardekar (age 24, resident of Shivdarshan Road, Pune). 

All of them were arrested for a case registered at Ravet Police Station, where Sagar Itkar (age 35), a contractor, had filed a case for his gold chain being stolen.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandeep Atole said that on the night of 27th July, while the complainant was going home on his bike, his bike was intercepted by two unknown accused, his chain was snatched, and they fled. 

Technical investigation and a police source’s tip-off led to the identification of Umap as the prime accused. Police discovered that Umap and the minor accused had committed the chain snatching. 

They were arrested from their residence. During questioning, they confessed to the crime and revealed that they sold the stolen jewellery to Khardekar. 

Police arrested Khardekar for buying stolen property. One case each registered at Ravet, Chikhali, Bhosari, MIDC Bhosari, Vishrantwadi, and Pune Airport Police Stations have been solved. 

A stolen gold chain and an Activa two-wheeler used in the crime have been recovered. DCP Atole told that the accused have been remanded to police custody, and Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Deshmukh is investigating the matter further.

This action was carried out under the guidance of Pimpri-Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr. Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Sarang Awhad, DCP Sandeep Atole, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Chinchwad Division) Sachin Hire. The team, led by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Phatangare, included API Sandeep Deshmukh, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Kolge, and Police Constables Botake, Bendbhar, Raut, Bramhan, Lamture, Kadam, and Devkar.