THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Accused who came on a bike and snatched a chain has been arrested. Anil Kumar (42) was arrested by the Kazhakootam police. The accused snatched the necklace after coming on a stolen bike. The woman fell on the ground and got injured while the accused grabbed her chain.

Ashwathi (30), a native of Peruthala Pothencode, sustained injuries. While Anil Kumar snatched her necklace, Ashwathi grabbed his shirt and yanked him. Locals caught the thief who fell from the bike onto the road and handed him over to the police.

Necklace theft of this manner has been increasing in Kerala in recent days. The accused are mostly targeting women and old people. The accused come on bikes and snatch chains. Harris (35), who is accused in several cases of necklace theft in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur districts, was recently arrested by the police. The accused was caught by the special squad under Kozhikode Rural SP Arvind Sukumar.

On the 9th of last month, a gold necklace weighing three-quarters of a sovereign belonging to Kalyani was stolen by the accused who came on a scooter on Thiruvambady Gateumpadi Road. In a similar manner, he committed theft on March 28 at Thenhipalam Kakkanchery and Vazhakadu on March 30. The police investigation was extended to Malappuram district following this. The accused chose deserted pocket roads for theft.

His method is to go out on a scooter, travel on deserted roads and snatch necklaces whenever he gets a chance. The police said that he sold the stolen gold to various jewellers and paid off his debts with that money. The Thamarassery court remanded the accused. The accused was nabbed by a team comprising Thiruvambady Inspector A Anil Kumar, Special Squad SIs Rajeevbabu, P Biju and Senior CPOs MN Jayarajan, P Jineesh, VK Vinod and TP Bijeesh, led by Thiruvambady DySP MP Vinod.