Mumbai: Powai police arrested a 28-year-old man within 24 hours of a gold-chain snatching in which a tuition teacher’s dress was torn, leaving her traumatised, on Sept 6. Two motorcycle-borne thieves allegedly snatched the woman’s chain, worth Rs 2.2 lakh, before escaping through a slum lane in Powai. Police recovered the stolen chain and are searching for the pillion rider involved in the snatching.
Police identified the rider as Akash Khatikmore (28) and tracked him to Vinoba Bhave Nagar in Kurla (W) after examining footage from at least 40 closed-circuit television cameras along the escape route. DCP (West Zone-3) said Khatikmore was traced to Vinoba Bhave Nagar in Kurla (West) after police examined footage from at least 40 CCTV cameras at the scene and along the suspects’ escape route. Mane said an orange logo and the digits 54 on the motorcycle, as described by Bumrah, helped police identify the suspects in CCTV footage and trace their route to Kurla. She first called the police control number 100 who directed her to the police station,” sub-inspector Patil said.
The complainant, Sheetal Bumrah (48), told police she had noticed “54” on the motorcycle’s number plate. Senior inspector AS Sawant said Khatikmore had previously been arrested and jailed but was out on bail. Investigators traced the vehicle using the two digits and an orange logo on the motorcycle. Bumrah praised the swift action of sub-inspectors Navnath Dhekle, Prashant Tayade and Rahul Patil, and assistant inspector Pranod Mane, who helped calm her after she entered the police station frightened and shaken by the incident. Khatikmore, a history-sheeter, was allegedly involved in two other snatching cases in Ghatkopar and Jogeshwari that day. “When Bumrah visited the police station, she was totally scared.