Arumbakkam chain snatching: Youth held

V Arunkumar (24) of Triplicane was caught by the police after a chase at Sathya Nagar near Anna Nagar, said sources, adding that a six-sovereign chain, a machete and the two-wheeler were seized from him. 

Police said Arunkumar is a repeat offender, who has 12 chain-snatching cases pending against him at various stations, including Thoraipakkam, Teynampet, Ice House and Washermanpet. He has also been detained under the Goondas Act twice. 

While he has been remanded in judicial custody, police have launched a hunt for his accomplice, Raja alias Thala, sources added. On February 11, S Menaka, a 52-year-old resident of Washermenpet, was walking near Valluvar Nagar at Arumbakkam at around 7.30 am, when she fell victim to two bike-borne chain-snatchers. 

The pillion rider pulled her chain, causing her to fall down on the road. When Menaka resisted and tried to save the chain, the robber dragged her for a few metres on the road and fled the scene.  After facing the heat from the public when the CCTV footages of the video went viral, CMBT police formed a special team to nab the culprits.