The crime detection unit attached to the Naya Nagar police station in Mira Road arrested a notorious thief who used to shuttle between Kolkata and Mumbai in trains and occasionally fly back after snatching chains of pedestrians-especially women and senior citizens.
The 31-year-old accused who has been identified as- Abdul Shahbaz Nazir was arrested by the unit from Kolkata where he was found to be living in disguise. Riding a bike, Abdul had fled after snatching a gold chain worth Rs.42,000 worn by a woman in the Shanti Nagar area of Mira Road on 16, January. An offence under section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for robbery was registered at the Naya Nagar police station against an unidentified accused.
A team led by senior police inspector- Amar Jagdale under the supervision of DCP (Zone I)- Prakash Gaikwad started investigations and on the virtue of electronic surveillance learnt that the accused had flown to Kolkata immediately after committing the crime.
The team left for Kolkata and apprehended Abdul from near a famous temple in Khidirpur in West Bengal with the help of their local counterparts. In an apparent attempt to dodge the police, Abdul had concealed his real identity, police said.
After procuring a transit remand from the local court, Abdul was brought back to the city. “Our team recovered the stolen gold chain and the bike which was used in the crime. Further investigations revealed that Abdul who was involved in a spate of chain snatching cases in Kolkata had lifted the bike from Byculla in Mumbai.” said senior police inspector- Amar Jagdale.
After spending a week in lock-up, Abdul was remanded to magisterial custody after he was produced before the district sessions court, Thane on Friday.