In Shalimar Garden, five cases of snatching in 11 days

Ghaziabad: After the relaxation of lockdown, criminal activities have seen a rise in parts of the city. Ghaziabad’s Shalimar Garden has become a hotspot of chain snatching incidents, locals have alleged.
The fifth incident of chain snatching in the past 11 days was reported from Shalimar Garden when a man allegedly barged into a house on Wednesday afternoon, the police said on Thursday.
They said the incident took place when Sharad Mohan from Gauri Shankar Colony went out of his house, talking over the phone around 2pm.
A man then entered the house while another was waiting outside on a bike. The victim’s elderly mother, Balsala, was sitting on a sofa when the accused snatched her gold chain and also took around Rs 200 from the table and fled the spot.
The residents said gate no. 2 of the area was closed after the lockdown was announced and was only opened after Sunday.
Circle officer of the area, Keshav Mishra, said an investigation is underway. “A case will be lodged soon,” he said.
The residents said: “The government has announced curfew after 7pm every night but people from Delhi are entering the area at night due to the absence of police.”
Raghu Sharma, a resident, demanded police patrolling be increased. “A police station must be set up in the area to put an end to such crimes,” he said.
Mishra said: “Around 90% of chain snatchers come from Delhi. After crimes, they flee to Delhi. The police have increased patrolling. Arrests will soon be made in the crimes.”