Pune: A wave of chain-snatching incidents has gripped the city, with elderly women falling prey to bike-borne thieves across multiple areas. The robbers made away with gold jewellery worth ₹4.5 lakh in separate incidents reported in Bhavani Peth, Erandwane, Warje, and Chatushrungi.
On Saturday night, around 9:30 PM, two thieves on a motorcycle snatched a mangalsutra worth ₹1.5 lakh from an elderly woman at Lokhand Bazaar in Bhavani Peth. The victim, a resident of Palkhi Vithoba Mandir Chowk, had stepped out with her husband when the robbers struck and fled at high speed. A complaint has been filed at Khadak Police Station, and Sub-Inspector Abhijit Pawar is leading the investigation.
A similar crime took place in Erandwane near Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital on Sunday at 8 PM. An elderly woman, who was waiting for a rickshaw outside Seva Sadan School, had her gold chain worth ₹50,000 snatched by thieves on a two-wheeler. She lodged a complaint at Alankar Police Station, and Sub-Inspector Mahesh Nimbalkar is handling the case.
In the Atulnagar area of Warje, another elderly woman was targeted around 7:30 PM on Sunday. While waiting for a rickshaw with her husband on the service road, she was attacked by bike-borne criminals who snatched her mangalsutra worth ₹1.5 lakh before speeding away. The Warje Malwadi Police Station has registered the case, and Assistant Police Inspector Mohite is investigating.
In Aundh’s Queens Tower Society, an elderly woman was robbed of her gold chain worth ₹1.5 lakh on Saturday at 6:45 PM. The victim, who was in the society premises, was targeted by criminals on a two-wheeler. A complaint has been filed at Chatushrungi Police Station, and Assistant Police Inspector Narendra Patil is overseeing the probe.
Adding to the city’s crime surge, a morning jogger on DP Road in Erandwane was robbed at gunpoint by two men on a bike on February 9. The victim, a resident of Shaniwar Peth, reported the incident to Alankar Police Station. Sub-Inspector Ganesh Dixit has been assigned to the case.
The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Authorities are intensifying patrols in vulnerable areas to curb the rising incidents of street crimes.
