Ahmedabad: A gold chain snatched in broad daylight near Mithakhali eventually led police to two alleged repeat offenders, ending a surveillance operation that stretched across several parts of the city. After combing through footage from more than 500 CCTV cameras and tracking the suspects’ movements, the local crime branch (LCB) of Zone-1 arrested two men accused of carrying out a series of chain-snatching incidents in some of the city’s prominent residential localities.Police on Saturday said the arrests have helped crack six chain-snatching cases registered across different police station limits, including Navrangpura, Sabarmati, Shahibaug, Ranip, Maninagar, and Khokhra.
A man was returning home after visiting a Jain Derasar in Mithakhali when he was targeted near Vaidehi Apartments around 9.30am
The breakthrough came during the investigation of a case reported on May 8. According to police, a man was returning home after visiting a Jain Derasar in Mithakhali when he was targeted near Vaidehi Apartments around 9.30am. Two men riding a motorcycle allegedly approached him, and the pillion rider snatched a gold chain from his neck before the duo sped away. A case was subsequently registered with Navrangpura police.Police formed multiple teams and began analysing CCTV footage from across the area. Officials said they examined footage from more than 500 cameras and traced the suspects’ route towards Paldi and Narayan Nagar. Based on the leads, police maintained continuous surveillance in the Narayan Nagar area for several days before finally apprehending the suspects along with the motorcycle allegedly used in the crimes.
Officials said they examined footage from more than 500 cameras and traced the suspects’ route towards Paldi and Narayan Nagar
The arrested men were identified as Pankaj Parmar, a 44-year-old resident of Vasna and originally from Rajasthan, and Laxmansingh Chauhan, a 38-year-old native of Rajasthan. Police said a third accused, Asha Thakkar, has been named in the case and remains absconding. Police suspect she acted as a receiver of stolen property.During the operation, police recovered cash worth Rs 2 lakh and three mobile phones.Officials said both arrested men have a criminal history. Parmar has 10 cases registered against him, including offences in Bapunagar, Odhav, Shahibaug, Ramol and three cases registered with Athwalines police in Surat. Chauhan has two cases registered against him in Odhav.Police added that Thakkar also has a long record, with eight cases registered against her at Nikol, Sardarnagar, Navrangpura, Odhav, Adalaj and Modasa Town police stations.
