By Sahil Makkar, IANS
New Delhi : Dudes riding black Pulsar motorcycles need to watch out! In what is a recent trend, Pulsar riders have been linked to most cases of snatching of gold chains and purses in the capital.
Delhi Police sources say that instructions have been given out to specifically look out for bikers riding swanky 150cc or 180cc black colour Pulsars – who have a tendency to zip through roads in Bollywood style.
“We have asked our officials to put barricades at strategic points in crime prone areas and frisk those riding Pulsars in the age group of 18-30 years,” a senior Delhi Police official told IANS.
“We have seen a trend. In most chain or purse snatching cases, the criminals fled on black Pulsars. Those who got caught in snatching cases were mostly found using these bikes,” the official added.
According Delhi Police data, over 850 cases of snatchings have been reported this year in the capital. Most cases were registered from the city’s northwest, west and south districts.
The police, however, claim that around 70 percent of those involved in these snatching cases have been arrested and in 50 percent of the cases the stolen items were recovered.
A person involved in chain snatching can be jailed for up to three years.
A senior official of Crime Branch, which deals with special crimes, said that most chain snatchers operate on motorcycles or scooters and mostly in open areas where escape is easier.
The Indian-made Pulsar is said to be the preferred mode of transport.
“The criminals mainly target women and children – outside schools, colleges and market places. Most incidents take place in evenings. Most victims get frightened by the sudden attack and are hardly able to protest,” the official explained. “And the snatchers disappear before the victim realises what has happened. Sometimes people don’t even know that they have been robbed!”
Policemen who have interrogated the snatchers say that most of them had a fascination for black Pulsar bikes as these could be manoeuvred and controlled better in comparison to other bikes.
“They told us that these bikes are more comfortable and easy to maintain,” the official added. “But why they prefer black colour bikes, we don’t know.”