Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Apr 16: Thomas, who had been in the habit of lurking women pedestrians found to be alone in secluded spots by moving around in his motor bike, and snatching gold ornaments worn by them around their necks before speeding away, was remanded to police custody. On being produced in the court on Wednesday, he was entrusted to seven days police custody, after the judge upheld the prayers of the prosecution.

The accused apparently is well-to-do. He owns a hollow blocks manufacturing unit and has a car and a motor bike. He has no vices, is soft-spoken, and a popular figure because of gentle manners and smiling face. Many refused to believe that he could be a chain snatcher. Some suggest that Thomas, who does not appear to be having any liability or financial problems, may be a kleptomaniac.

It may be recalled the policemen, who identified the chain snatcher on the basis of CCTV footage, had recovered 13 neck chains from the house of Thomas. As most of the chain snatching incidents occurred after dusk, no one had been able to see the culprit. As the recent incident involving Thomas occurred in the noon on Peruvaje Road, he could be identified as the notorious chain snatcher the policemen have been groping for since some months.

Reliable sources said that Thomas had safely preserved all the chains robbed by him at a secluded spot inside the house without the knowledge of his family members. He started snatching away chains after he met with an accident about 18 months back, after which he was down with high fever for a month. He belongs to a respectable family, and used to get engaged with the habit of yanking away chains after his hollow blocks unit was closed in the evening. Even after the chain snatching incidents became the talk of the town, he never showed any nervousness, and confidently moved about freely.

The policemen believe that he was involved in over 30 cases of chain snatching. They are not sure whether he succeeded in only 13 incidents, whether he was also connected with other kinds of thefts, and whether he had any accomplices. They also do not at present rule out the possibility of Thomas dreaming to become a super rich man in course of time by accumulating lot of gold ornaments. They are confident of finding out answers to these questions with detailed investigation.